Overview of Physics Research at Old Dominion University
On-campus facilities within the Old Dominion University Physics Department include modern laboratories in materials science, surface science, continuous wave and pulsed laser spectroscopy, electron spectroscopy, atomic beams and laser cooling, gamma ray spectroscopy, nuclear physics and particle detector development. These laboratories are equipped with a variety of state-of-the-art instrumentation including fast electronic and computer-based data acquisition systems, pulsed and cw narrow-band spectrometers, high and low temperature Mössbauer spectrometers, a X-ray diffractometer, and high resolution particle detectors.
Presently, the major research areas of the department fall mainly in three clusters:
Nuclear and Particle Physics:
Major departmental research activities are in experimental and theoretical nuclear physics. Many of our folk work some of the time nearby at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (formerly named CEBAF), which houses a 4 GeV electron accelerator, associated detector end stations, and development laboratories. Additional experimental research activities in nuclear physics are conducted at the Bates Linear Accelerator, SLAC and at Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics:
Another major research activities of the department are in experimental and theoretical atomic, molecular and optical physics. These activities take place mostly on campus, but on occasion we participate in work at the Langley Research Center of NASA located 12 miles from campus or at the Free Electron Laser Facility at Jefferson Lab.
Condensed Matter and Materials Physics:
The third general area of condensed matter and material research is conducted in on-campus laboratories, but with an international flavor of cooperative research and funding from Mexico and South America
The physics department at Old Dominion University also has long history of research in several other research specialties. These include both theoretical and experimental research in: Atomic and Molecular Physics, Chemical Physics, Health Physics, Nuclear and Particle Physics, Optics, Physics Education, Plasma and Fusion Physics, Solid State, Laser Physics, Electronics and Instrumentation, Gamma-Ray Optics, Materials Science, and Mössbauer Physics.
