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Research Groups                         Research Highlights
Financial assistance for graduate study in Physics is available in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, combination teaching/research assistantships, and work/study programs. In addition, some fellowships and awards are offered.
- the High Energy Physics group
- the Astronomy group
- the Cosmology group
- the Space Science group
- the Laser Physics group
- the Atomic and Molecular Physics group
- the Condensed Matter Physics group
- the Computational Physics group
 
More information about the specific research interests within each group can be found by browsing the individual pages of each faculty member.

High Energy Physics
The members of the High Energy Theory group at USC are a very dynamic group whose contributions to the field have been widely recognized. Currently, the main emphasis of the group is on superstring theory and related topics. Included in the group are Professors Itzhak Bars, Clifford Johnson, Dennis Nemeschansky, Krzysztof Pilch, Hubert Saleur, and Nicholas Warner
Group Web Site:  High Energy Physics
Astronomy
The members of the Astronomy group work primarily in helioseismology. This work includes both developing foundational theory for understanding experiments as well as data acquisition and reduction principally at 60-foot solar tower on Mt. Wilson. This group can also provide the opportunity of collaborative research with scientists at the Carnegie Observatories
Members of this group include Professors Werner Dappen and Edward Rhodes
Cosmology
The Cosmology group at USC is interested in a variety of scienitific issues including dark matter and dark energy models, the early Universe, cosmological parameter determination, data analysis and interpretation. The group offers the opportunity of collaborative research with scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on current and future space missions. This group includes Professor Elena Pierpaoli,
Group Web Site:  Cosmology
Space Sciences
Work in the Space Sciences Center is engaged in both laboratory and space based investigations of photoabsorption and emission processes in atomic and molecular gasses in the spectral region from the extreme ultraviolet through the infrared. Members of the group include Professors Darrell Judge, Research Professors Robert Wu, Geraldine Peters, and Research Scientist Pradip Gangopadhyay
Group Web Sites:  Space Sciences Center
Laser Physics
The Laser Physics group has attained national and international prominence during the past decade for its work involving applications of lasers and basic laser studies. Members of the Laser Physics group include Professors Jack Feinberg, Martin Gundersen, Robert Hellwarth, Anthony Levi
Atomic & Molecular Physics
The research efforts of the Atomic and Molecular Physics group are concerned primarily with various aspects of the interaction of the electromagnetic radiation with matter, as well as atomic and molecular collisions. Members of the Atomic and Molecular Physics group include Professors Tu-nan Chang, Maxim Olshanii, Robin Shakeshaft,
Condensed Matter Physics
The Condensed Matter group is currently investigating a range of topics, including unconventional superconductivity, quantum spin liquids, solid state quantum computers, superfluidity of þHe, electron transport at low temperatures, two-dimensional inversion layers in semiconductors, semiconductor physics and semiconductor device properties at low temperatures, magnetism at ultralow temperatures, electromagnetic properties of superconductors, and physics of nanoclusters. Members of the Condensed Matter group include Professors Gerd Bergmann, Gene Bickers, Hans Bozler, Christopher Gould, Stephan Haas, Rajiv Kalia, Vitaly Kresin, Grace Lu, Anupam Madhukar, Kazumi Maki, Aiichiro Nakano, Richard Thompson, Priya Vashishta and Paolo Zanardi
Group Web Sites:  
Computational Condensed Matter Theory
Collaboratory for Advanced Computing and Simulations
Ultralow Temperature Physics Group.
Quantum Nanostructures Group
Nanoelectronics & Advanced Material Innovation (NAMI)
Computational Physics
Computational Science has become a major inter-disciplinary focus at USC. Members of the Computational Physics group are currently working on large-scale simulations of quantum spin liquids, atomic spectra, time-dependent atomic processes in intense fields and multi-scale hybrid simulations of materials. Special emphasis is given to algorithm design and high performance programming environments for massively parallel machines and immersive and interactive three-dimensional scientific visualization. Members of the group include Professors Gene Bickers, Tu-nan Chang, Stephan Haas, Rajiv Kalia, Aiichiro Nakano, Robin Shakeshaft, Priya Vashishta
Group Web Sites:
Computational Condensed Matter Theory Group
Collaboratory for Advanced Computing and Simulations


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