Physics Research at Mississippi State University

Astrophysics

The astrophysics group is actively involved in two areas: high
energy astrophysics and comet science. A strong collaboration with
the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama and with the Centre d'Etude Spatiale des Rayonnements in Toulouse, France, is concentrating on the analysis and interpretation of data from the Gamma-Ray Observatory satellite. Research in comet science involves analysis of ground-based and flyby data from recent comet missions and observing campaigns.

Atomic and Molecular Physics

Most of our atomic and molecular physics group are involved in a large interdisciplinary project for the development of optical-, imaging- and laser-based techniques and instrumentation systems to address pressing environmental problems. The project includes applications of spectroscopy, to the real-time quantitative measurements of species concentration and location. State-of-the-art techniques, such cavity ringdown spectrometry, laser induced breakdown spectrometry, optical fiber sensors, and quantitative and spectral imaging techniques, are being employed.

Computational Physics

The computational physics group, our newest research area, performs research on algorithm development and applications of large-scale calculations to better understand both static and dynamic processes in complex systems and in materials. Much of this interdisciplinary work is carried out at the MSU ERC Center for Computational Sciences. The ERC houses both the massively parallel computers with thousands of processing elements that provide the computer cycles for these studies and the interdisciplinary teams that study these problems.

Nuclear Physics

In our nuclear physics group, emphasis is on experimental and theoretical investigations of the structures and decay modes of nuclei in high spin states or far from stability, relativistic hydrodynamics, and data acquisition and analysis software. Experiment planning and data analysis are performed on campus, while experiments are carried out at national nuclear physics laboratories across the country.

Optics

The optics group carries out research in both quantum and classical optics. The research in theoretical optics focuses on near-field optics, where the emphasis is on optical phenomena on a length scale of an optical wavelength. This research relates to the rapidly developing area of nanoscale technology where structures with atomic and molecular sizes are studied. Particular attention is paid to optical properties of atoms and molecules near an interface, and their interaction with light. In experimental optics, the areas of research are laser interactions with materials and laser based time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Physics Education

The Physics Education group is active in research, curriculum development and teacher training. The research program focuses on the study of the effects of using technology on teaching and learning, more particularly, the group studies the effects of using multimedia and web-mediated instruction on student learning. The teacher training aspect of the group's efforts includes offering summer workshops and courses for in-service teachers. In this, the group seeks new ways to train and assist elementary, middle and secondary science teachers so that they have the background and resources necessary to excite their students about science and to enhance science literacy.