The school carries out research in a variety of areas of astrophysics, with the common theme of understanding the growth of structure in the Universe.
On the theoretical side, we focus on the fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background, and how these perturbations grew to form the present-day large-scale structure.
The analytical theory is supported by our work in computational cosmology, in which we have undertaken studies simulating the growth of structure in the Universe.
Observationally, we use all the major international ground-based facilities and space-based observatories to study structures from individual galaxies to the large-scale distribution of material in the Universe.
Further information can be found on the
Nottingham Astronomy Group website.
The Theoretical Physics group at The University of Nottingham carries out research in the general area of theoretical condensed matter physics. We aim to use a variety of analytical and computational techniques to investigate the ways in which order and complexity arise within condensed matter.
Our work falls into three main areas:
- Quantum Phenomena in Nanostructures
- Ultra-Cold Atoms and other Quantum Fluids
- Statistical Physics and its Applications
Further information can be found on the Condensed Matter Theory website.
Our Experimental Condensed Matter and Nanoscience research involves seven groups:
Nanoscience
Nanometre scale structures and nanostructured materials play an increasingly important role in a wide range of scientific disciplines, ranging from solid-state physics through to molecular biology.
Research interests reflect this multidisciplinary and involve intra- and inter-university collaborations with groups in Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Scanning probe microscopes are used extensively by the group.
Semiconductors
Extensive in-house semiconductor growth and fabrication facilities, including four MBE systems and nanolithography, provide the basis for wide-ranging studies of III-V arsenide and nitride semiconductor materials and devices.
We are investigating novel alloys, self-organised quantum dots, superlattices and nanostructures using techniques including electrical transport, quantum tunneling, ultra-fast optical spectroscopy, phonon spectroscopy and imaging, and capacitance and magnetic force scanning probe microscopy.
Granular Dynamics
Granular materials are extremely unusual in that they can simultaneously display properties normally associated with solids, liquids and gases, together with other properties which are uniquely on there own. Our research aims to investigate the dynamical behaviour of various granular systems using a combination of experimentation, numerical simulations and analytical studies.
Magnetic Levitation
We use strong magnetic fields, up to 17 Tesla, generated by superconducting magnets to levitate water and biological organisms such as plants and bacteria. Within a magnetically levitated object, the force of gravity is balanced by a magnetic force at the molecular level. This means we can investigate the effects of weightless conditions, without needing a spaceship.
We can also use the magnetic field to effectively increase the force of gravity, or to apply "differential" gravity to mixtures, such as granular materials, to achieve separation.
Nanoelectromechanical Systems (NEMS)
NEMS can be regarded as a natural continuation of a process of miniaturisation which initially led to the development of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and as such are likely to find a very wide range of applications in nanotechnology. A number of very promising prototype NEMS devices have already been developed. In particular, intensive effort has been devoted to developing detectors of mass, spin and charge, based on high frequency mechanical resonators. On a more fundamental level, nanomechanical resonators, with frequencies up to the GHz range, have been identified as having great potential for probing the transition from quantum to classical regimes. The fundamental limits set by quantum mechanics on the sensitivity with which a resonator's position can be monitored have been known for some time, but it is only very recently, using nanomechanical systems, that experiment has come close to reaching them
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; and Ultra-Low Temperature Physics
Activities in this field include:
- quantum molecular tunnelling
- production and exploitation of hyperpolarised species for medical and materials sciences
- quantum fluids
- spin dynamics in solid xenon
Further information on all of these areas can be found on the Experimental Condensed Matter and Nanoscience research website.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which was invented at The University of Nottingham by Nobel laureate Sir Peter Mansfield, has had a major impact on medical science.
Our current research focuses on the development and application of new techniques and hardware for MR imaging and spectroscopy (MRS), often via multidisciplinary collaboration.
Current projects include:
- Development of a seven Tesla human MRI system
- Investigation of human brain function using functional MRI/S
- Applying novel MRI techniques to monitoring human physiology
- MR microscopy
- Use of hyper-polarised noble gases in MRI of the lungs
- Development and application of dynamic nuclear polarization
Further information can be found on the Magnetic Resonance Group website.
This group carries out research into the physics of the very Early Universe. Research focuses on the cosmological consequences of string theory, finding realistic particles physics modules of inflation, understanding the formation and evolution of topological defects during phase transitions in the Early Universe, as well as probing the nature of dark energy in our universe.
The exciting aspect of the research is that it leads to real overlaps with both the astronomy research and the Quantum Gravity research based in applied mathematics.
Further information can be found on the
Particle Theory Group website.
The “ultracold” part of the Midlands Physics Alliance targets cutting-edge interdisciplinary research at the rapidly evolving interface between cold atom, condensed matter, and optical physics. It joins more than 15 research groups in theoretical and experimental cold atom physics in a strategic partnership between the Universities of Birmingham, Nottingham, and Warwick. A milestone was the 2007 initiation of the Midlands Ultracold Atom Research Centre (MUARC) in the Schools of Physics and Astronomy at the Universities of Birmingham and Nottingham with a £9m EPSRC/HEFCE-funded Science and Innovation Award to create a world-class centre for cold atom research.
MPA ultracold builds on, and integrates with, the large established programmes in condensed matter physics, nanoscience, and cold atom/condensed matter theory – thus producing a step change in the UK's capacity for research innovation across these fields.
The vision of MPA ultracold is to create a critical mass of cold-atom related knowledge to take full benefit of cross-field synergies and efficiently cover the full range from fundamental physics to high-profile applications.