Research
Research in the department is focused on the areas of:
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Atmospheric Physics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- High Energy (Particle and Astroparticle) Physics
- Nanotechnology
- Medical physics
- Ring lasers and
- Theoretical Physics
Physics and Astronomy research in UC SPARK website
Detailed information about the research of individuals, research groups, projects and disciplines.
Background to the Department's research
The Department manages New Zealand's largest telescopes at Mount John University Observatory, near Lake Tekapo, the Birdlings Flat radar facility, and the ring laser facility in the Cashmere Cavern. We also have atmospheric research activities at Scott Base and Antarctica. Medical physics activities occur at Christchurch and St Georges Hospitals.
We are founding member of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) consortium, and the CERN-based Medpix-3 Collaboration, members of the CERN Compact Muon Solenoid experiment which studies proton collisions from the CMS detector at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. We are also members of the IceCube collaboration which is installing a 1 km3 neutrino telescope at the South Pole.
The Nanostructure Engineering Science and Technology Group (NEST) and MacDiarmid Institute joint research effort with the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Industrial Research Limited.
To enquire about research
We welcome enquiries into our research. These are most efficiently dealt with by the individuals concerned. General enquiries regarding registration for postgraduate degrees may be addressed to the Head of Department, Prof. Roger Reeves.