Facilities and Centers
The PHY Division supports the following facilities and centers:
Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC's)
This new program has been established to enable major advances at the intellectual frontiers of physics by providing needed resources not usually available to individual investigators or small groups (e.g., combinations of talents, skills, disciplines, and/or specialized infrastructure). The program supports university-based centers to make transformational advances in the most promising research areas. Proposals are considered in areas within the purview of the Division of Physics, broadly interpreted, e.g., atomic, molecular, optical, plasma, elementary particle, nuclear, astro-, gravitational, interdisciplinary, and emerging areas of physics. Interdisciplinary physics is taken here to mean research at the interface between physics and other disciplines, e.g., biophysics, quantum information science, mathematical physics.
The Division currently supports the following Physics Frontiers Centers:
FOCUS: Frontiers in Optical Coherent and Ultrafast Science at the University of Michigan. Laser-based studies of coherent manipulation of molecular motion and the control of quantum mechanics in ultracold atoms and ions; the production, control, and utilization of extremely short light pulses; and the physics of ultrahigh intensity laser fields.
Center for Cosmological Physics at the University of Chicago. Four broad areas of research devoted to the understanding of the deepest problems of the interface between cosmology and particle physics.
Center for Gravitational Wave Physics at Pennsylvania State University. Focuses on the development of gravitational wave phenomenology: the physics and astrophysics that can be explored by graviational wave observations in all wavebands.
Center for the Study of the Origin and Structure of Matter at Hampton University. Conducts research into the nature of matter through development of detectors, software, and simulations for nuclear and particle physics, and through a program of experimentation, education, and outreach.
Center for Theoretical Biological Physics at the University of California at San Diego. Encompasses a broad spectrum of research and training activities at the interface between physics and the biological sciences.
Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory and Astrophysical Plasmas at the University of Wisconsin. Unites plasma physicists with plasma astrophysicists to understand magnetic self-organization in astrophysical and laboratory plasmas with a view to identifying and unraveling puzzles in plasma physics that are important in both regimes.
Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics at the University of Notre Dame. Fosters both theoretical and experimental research that supports the connection between nuclear physics and astrophysics.
Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Studies are primarily focused on theoretical condensed matter, elementary particle physics, astrophysics, and biological physics. Jointly sponsored with the Divisions of Materials Research, Astronomical Sciences, and Mathematical Sciences.
Other Facilities and Centers
The Division of Physics supports a number of large and small-scale experimental facilities, centers and theoretical institutes. These include:
Facilities:- The Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR)
- The Indiana University Cyclotron Facility (IUCF)
- The National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL)
- The Laser Interferometer Gravity Wave Observatory (LIGO)
- Large Aperture Plasma Device (LAPD)
- JILA at the University of Colorado
- MIT-Harvard Center for Ultracold Atoms (CUA)
- Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology
- The Institute for Theoretical Atomic and Molecular Physics (ITAMP)
- The Aspen Center for Physics
- The Santa Fe Institute (SFI)
- The Rochester Theory Center for Optical Science and Engineering
- The e-Print Archive at Los Alamos
The Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR)
Experimental high energy physics using colliding electron-positron beams. In addition, the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), supported by the Division of Materials Research and the Directorate for Biological Sciences, performs experimental research in many aspects of materials science and biology using the synchrotron light produced by CESR.
The Indiana University Cyclotron Facility (IUCF)
Experimental nuclear physics studies in nuclear structure and meson physics using medium-energy light ions. Studies of accelerator physics of cooled, stored beams using the Indiana Cooler Facility.
The National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University
Experimental nuclear physics studies using medium-energy heavy ions, especially radioactive beams, to investigate nuclear structure far off the stability line, and nuclear matter at extreme temperature and densities. There is also emphasis on development of superconducting accelerator technology. An upgrade of this facility was begun in FY1997 and will be completed in FY2001.
The Laser Interferometer Gravity Wave Observatory (LIGO)
Direct detection of gravitational radiation to test the predictions of general relativity, subsequently using these observations as a probe of dark matter, black holes, neutron stars, and other exotic phenomena in the universe that are not seen via the electromagnetic spectrum. Construction of the two LIGO detectors at sites in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana is complete. Detector installation and commissioning is currently underway. The accompanying R&D program of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) is focused on LIGO II with substantially upgraded capability.
Large Aperture Plasma Device (LAPD) at the University of California at Los Angeles
Co-funded by the NSF and the Department of Energy (DOE), this Basic Plasma Science Facility is the only general user facility for fundamentamental plasma physics in the world. A large plasma column, coupled with extensive diagnostics, offers users the possibility to investigate fundamental plasma phenomena in unprecedented detail.
JILA at the University of Colorado
Experimental and theoretical atomic, molecular and optical physics research sponsored jointly with NIST.
MIT-Harvard Center for Ultracold Atoms (CUA) jointly between MIT and Harvard University
Theoretical and experimental research on ultracold atoms, quantum condensed gases, and atom optics. Jointly sponsored by the Division of Materials Research.
Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology (CBST) at the University of California at Davis. The center brings together scientists, industry, educators and the community to research and develop applications for biophotonics -- the science of using light to understand the inner workings of cells and tissues in living organisms.
The Institute for Theoretical Atomic and Molecular Physics (ITAMP) at the Harvard/Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Theoretical studies of atomic, molecular and optical physics via long-term visitor's programs, postdoctoral fellowships, and graduate education.
The Aspen Center for Physics
Summer study institute focusing mainly on elementary particle physics and astrophysics. Jointly sponsored with the Division of Astronomy.
The Santa Fe Institute (SFI)
Collaborative theoretical studies of a broad range of multidisciplinary complex systems through long-term and short-term visitor programs, postdoctoral fellowships, graduate and undergraduate research internships, and a summer school. Jointly sponsored with the Directorates for Biological Sciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences.
The Rochester Theory Center for Optical Science and Engineering
An interdisciplinary Theory Center established at the University of Rochester, which will operate within five departments, institutes and laboratories of the University and is intended to provide advanced training in theoretical, mathematical and computational research in the broad field of optics, including both science and technology.
The e-Print Archive at Los Alamos
An on-line electronic archive of preprints in theoretical and experimental physics, as well as many other disciplines.
