Description:

 

Condensed matter physics is a branch of physics that deals with the physical properties of condensed phases of matter. Condensed matter physicists seek to understand the behavior of these phases by using physical laws. In particular, these include the laws of quantum mechanics, electromagnetism and statistical mechanics.

 

Condensed matter physics (CMP) is the fundamental science of solids and liquids. As the largest branch of physics, it has the greatest impact on our daily lives by providing foundations for technology developments. For example, the invention of transistors and semiconductor chips have led to the widespread use of a variety of data storage, telecommunication, and multi-media devices (e.g., cellular phones, digital still and video cameras, MP3 players, GPS, flat panel HDTVs, DVDs, hard disk drives, flash drives, Blue-ray players, iPod and iPad, etc.), and personal computers.

 

Almost every aspect of our daily life benefits from research in condensed matter physics: for example, composite materials are used in jet turbines and modern tennis rackets; superconducting magnets are used in MRI tomography for medical diagnostics; various solid state sensors and detectors for space exploration and homeland security, and lasers for entertainment, broadband communication, and various medical procedures.

 

 

 

Career Paths:

 

Applied physics...

• ... is the traditional pathway to specialise in physics related areas including condensed matter, plasma and optical physics

• ... can lead you to many graduate-level engineering programmes.

• ... gives you superb preparation for a wide range of positions in university, government and industrial organisations due to its highly customisable course which can allow you to diversely apply your knowledge.

• ... is great preparation for careers in blossoming technological sectors such as energy and nanotechnology.

• ... is very well suited for any career requiring strong experimental and/or theoretical and/or calculation skills.

• ... provides a very desirable pathway to careers in finance.

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Before 1978, when the American Physical Society changed the terminology, a career in condensed matter physics meant having a job in solid-state physics. The new field now includes the study of liquids, but not how fluids move and the forces acting on them, which is covered by fluid mechanics. One-third of the physicists in the United States have jobs in condensed-matter physics.

Condensed matter physics jobs include the study of Bose-Einstein condensate, a phenomenon predicted by the famous developers of Bose-Einstein statistics 70 years before physicists with jobs at JILA (a research institute operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado) discovered it. This new state of matter emerged when the temperature of rubidium gas was cooled to 1.7 x 10-7 K. At this low temperature, the momentum of the atoms became more known and their location less known to the extent of forming a single quantum state.

Many jobs in condensed matter physics involve the study of superconductors, which have zero resistivity and other technologically useful properties. It is a quantum mechanical phenomenon thought until 1986 to occur at temperatures near 0 K, but certain ceramics make the transition at 90 K. Superconductors can produce the stable magnetic fields required by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a multi-billion dollar business. There are condensed matter physics career opportunities in this subfield which is related to magnetic levitation for transportation, digital circuits, power cables, and electronic filters that operate in the frequency range used by broadcast radio, cell phones, and television.

Many jobs in solid-state physics involve research on semiconductors and transistors and require using X-ray crystallography, neutron diffraction, and electron diffraction to study the structure of materials.

Nanotechnology positions are likely to overlap with careers in condensed matter physics. Nanotech controls matter on an atomic scale and deals with structures smaller than 10-7 meters. In 2000, scientists at IBM reported the micro-fabrication of an electronic chip for high-speed data storage. Another example of nanotechnology is using carbon nanotubes (a form of carbon) to make nanomotors. IBM scientists recently reported using a combination of atomic force microscopy (high-resolution scanning probe microscopy) and MRI to get images of viruses with a resolution of better than 10-8 meters.

 

 

Education:

 

The entrance requirements would require students to have at least an upper second class degree in Physics or closely related discipline; in exceptional circumstances students may be admitted with a lower second class degree (although students with a lower second class degree will not be considered for the theoretical physics stream).  Students would have to achieve at least 6.5 IELTS score and the equivalent in the relevant TOEFL assessment. This is in line with the current Science and Engineering requirements.

 

 

Average salary:

 

 The average salary for condensed matter physics jobs is £40,260. Average condensed matter physics salaries can vary greatly due to company, location, industry, experience and benefits.