Creativity, Discovery, Engagement
Learning Like No Other
We strive to be at the forefront of many areas where new physics can be found. While we often study the simplest things, such as individual atoms, we study the most complicated things too: unusual materials like high temperature superconductors and those that are important in biology. By pushing the limits, we have the chance to observe new general principles and to test theories of the structure and behavior of matter and energy.
Research in the department covers a wide range of fields, including AMO physics, biological physics, condensed matter physics, high energy physics, particle astrophysics, and gravitational physics. Many opportunities are available for both graduate and undergraduate students.
Department of Physics and Biophysics
Health Sciences Campus
Science & Mathematics Building
706-721-2335
Our faculty have diverse specializations and research interests, and they’re passionate about working with undergraduate as well as graduate students. This includes advising and mentoring throughout your time at AU, as well as partnering with you on gaining research experience.
Research typically involves designing and testing instruments and devices necessary for various interdisciplinary investigations, such as environmental sensors. Students learn about analog and digital electronic circuits and how to write microcontroller software appropriate for completing projects.
Faculty: Dr. Andy Hauger
Understanding basic phenomena ranging from the few-body to the many-body level. Included are processes such as the behavior of quantum gases (such as Bose-Einstein condensates) and degenerate (Fermi) gases, and Bose-Fermi mixtures, which connect with modern-day condensed-matter physics.
Faculty: Dr. Tom Colbert (Experimental), Dr. Theja DeSilva (Theoretical)
A branch of astronomy that looks at the physical nature of stars and other celestial bodies, and seeks to apply the laws and theories of physics to the interpretation of astronomical observations.
Faculty: Dr. Joseph Newton, Dr. Nathan Yanasak
Questions the interface of the physical and life sciences and covers biological organization, including molecular, organismic, and populations. Research focuses on biological applications of physics, particularly on the damages done to DNA by ultraviolet and ionizing radiations, as well as post-irradiation effects on cells. We look at spectroscopic studies of proteins, nucleic acids, and other biologically important molecules using visible and ultraviolet light.
Faculty: Dr. John Sutherland
The theoretical subset of Biological Physics involves studying biological phenomena using computational and theoretical approaches, based on physics, to gather insights into the underlying physical principles for how cells and tissues carry out their functions. We look at collective cell movement during embryogenesis and tumor growth, and how cells sense their mechanical environment.
Faculty: Dr. Abdul Malmi-Kakkada, Dr. Theja DeSilva, Dr. Trinanjan Datta
Looks at the physical properties of condensed phases of matter where particles adhere to one another. We seek to understand the behavior of these phases by using physical laws, including the laws of quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, and statistical mechanics. At AU, we do research into microfluidics and electrified jets, quantum magnetism, strongly correlated electron systems, and high-temperature superconductors.
Faculty: Josefa Guerrero-Millan (Experimental), Dr. Theja DeSilva (Theoretical), Dr. Trinanjan Datta (Theoretical and Computational), Dr. Abdul Malmi-Kakkada (Theoretical)
Researches the technical foundations of radiation, dosimetry, and nuclear medicine. Medical physics incorporates experimental, computational, and theoretical methods to study the effect of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Faculty: Dr. Nathan Yanasak, Dr. Andy Hauger, Dr. Joseph Newton
Studies protons and neutrons at the center of an atom (nuclei) and the interaction that hold them together in space. We also do research into other forms of nuclear matter.
Faculty: Dr. Joseph Newton
Physics education research (PER) refers to the methods currently used to teach physics and to an area of pedagogical research that seeks to improve those methods. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) uses discovery, reflection, and evidence-based methods to research effective teaching and student learning. These findings are peer-reviewed and publicly disseminated in an ongoing cycle of systematic inquiry into classroom practices.
Faculty: Dr. Tom Colbert, Dr. Trinanjan Datta, Dr. Theja DeSilva
Creativity, Discovery, Engagement
Our faculty's research is at the forefront of today's science and tomorrow's technology. Browse some of the recent publications.
https://journals.aps.org/pra/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevA.110.033324
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Mechanical feedback links cell division and dynamics in growing cell collectivesSinha, S., Li, X., Malmi-Kakkada, A. N. & Thirumalai, D., Jan 10 2025, In: Soft Matter. 21, 6, p. 1170-1179 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Two-band atomic superfluidity in the presence of an orbital Feshbach resonanceVincent, A. & De Silva, T. N., Sep 2024, In: Physical Review A. 110, 3, 033324.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Contact area and tissue growth dynamics shape synthetic juxtacrine signaling patternsDawson, J. E., Bryant, A., Walton, B., Bhikot, S., Macon, S., Ajamu-Johnson, A., Jordan, T., Langridge, P. D. & Malmi-Kakkada, A. N., Jan 7 2025, In: Biophysical Journal. 124, 1, p. 93-106 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Effect of noise in the direction of motion over the spatial distribution and proliferation of migrating cell collectivesDawson, J. E. & Malmi-Kakkada, A. N., Jun 2024, In: Physical Review Research. 6, 3, 033054.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Do cardiopulmonary resuscitation real-time audiovisual feedback devices improve patient outcomes? A systematic review and meta-analysisSood, N., Sangari, A., Goyal, A., Sun, C., Horinek, M., Hauger, J. A. & Perry, L., Oct 26 2023, In: World Journal of Cardiology. 15, 10, p. 531-541 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Customizable Open-Source Rotating Rod (Rotarod) Enables Robust Low-Cost Assessment of Motor Performance in MiceWidjaja, J. H., Sloan, D. C., Hauger, J. A. & Muntean, B. S., Sep 2023, In: eNeuro. 10, 9Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Raman spectroscopy of bimagnon and trimagnon excitations and rotonlike points in a distorted triangular lattice antiferromagnetLi, J., Jin, S., Datta, T. & Yao, D. X., May 1 2023, In: Physical Review B. 107, 18, 184402.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Enhanced mechanical heterogeneity of cell collectives due to temporal fluctuations in cell elasticityZills, G., Datta, T. & Malmi-Kakkada, A. N., Jan 2023, In: Physical Review E. 107, 1, 014401.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Ab initio study of spin fluctuations in the itinerant kagome magnet FeSnZhang, Y. F., Ni, X. S., Datta, T., Wang, M., Yao, D. X. & Cao, K., Nov 1 2022, In: Physical Review B. 106, 18, 184422.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Cell clusters softening triggers collective cell migration in vivoMarchant, C. L., Malmi-Kakkada, A. N., Espina, J. A. & Barriga, E. H., Nov 2022, In: Nature Materials. 21, 11, p. 1314-1323 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Glass-Based Devices to Generate Drops and EmulsionsGuerrero, J., Rojo, J., de La Cotte, A., Vila, E. & Fernandez-Nieves, A., Apr 2022, In: Journal of Visualized Experiments. 2022, 182, e63376.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Effective curved space-time geometric theory of generic-twist-angle graphene with application to a rotating bilayer configurationMa, J. Z., Datta, T. & Yao, D. X., Jun 15 2022, In: Physical Review B. 105, 24, 245102.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Adhesion strength between cells regulate nonmonotonic growth by a biomechanical feedback mechanismMalmi-Kakkada, A. N., Sinha, S., Li, X. & Thirumalai, D., Oct 4 2022, In: Biophysical Journal. 121, 19, p. 3719-3729 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Feasibility of a reusable radiochromic dosimeterNewton, J. R., Recht, M., Hauger, J. A., Segarra, G., Inglett, C., Romo, P. A. & Adamovics, J., Nov 1 2021, In: Applied Sciences (Switzerland). 11, 21, 9906.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Massive electrons and unconventional room-temperature superconductivity in superhydridesDe Silva, T. N., Jul 1 2021, In: Physical Review B. 104, 2, 024503.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Topological properties of multilayer magnon insulatorsHofer, S., Datta, T., Tewari, S. & Mazumdar, D., Aug 1 2021, In: Physical Review B. 104, 6, 064427.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Einstein-de Haas effect of topological magnonsLi, J., Datta, T. & Yao, D. X., Jun 2021, In: Physical Review Research. 3, 2, 023248.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Interparticle Adhesion Regulates the Surface Roughness of Growing Dense Three-Dimensional Active Particle AggregatesSinha, S. & Malmi-Kakkada, A. N., Sep 9 2021, In: Journal of Physical Chemistry B. 125, 37, p. 10445-10451 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Mechanical heterogeneity along single cell-cell junctions is driven by lateral clustering of cadherins during vertebrate axis elongationHuebner, R. J., Malmi-Kakkada, A. N., Sarıkaya, S., Weng, S., Thirumalai, D. & Wallingford, J. B., May 25 2021, In: eLife.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Microtubule deacetylation reduces cell stiffness to allow the onset of collective cell migration in vivoMarchant, C., Malmi-Kakkada, A., Espina, J. & Barriga, E., Aug 12 2021, (Submitted)Research output: Other contribution |
Torque equilibrium spin wave theory of Raman scattering in an anisotropic triangular lattice antiferromagnet with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactionShan, C., Jin, S., Datta, T. & Yao, D. X., Jan 13 2021, In: Physical Review B. 103, 2, 024417.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Magnetoelastic distortion of multiferroic BiFeO3 in the canted antiferromagnetic stateRoom, T., Viirok, J., Peedu, L., Nagel, U., Farkas, D. G., Szaller, D., Kocsis, V., Bordács, S., Kezsmarki, I., Kamenskyi, D. L., Engelkamp, H., Ozerov, M., Smirnov, D., Krzystek, J., Thirunavukkuarasu, K., Ozaki, Y., Tomioka, Y., Ito, T., Datta, T. & Fishman, R. S., Dec 9 2020, In: Physical Review B. 102, 21, 214410.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Asymptotic behavior of correlation functions of one-dimensional polar-molecules on optical latticesDe Silva, T. N., Dec 2020, In: Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics. 53, 23, 235302.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study of vector chiral ordered kagome antiferromagnetXiong, Z., Datta, T. & Yao, D. X., Dec 1 2020, In: npj Quantum Materials. 5, 1, 78.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Spectroscopic signatures of next-nearest-neighbor hopping in the charge and spin dynamics of doped one-dimensional antiferromagnetsKumar, U., Nocera, A., Price, G., Stiwinter, K., Johnston, S. & Datta, T., Aug 15 2020, In: Physical Review B. 102, 7, 075134.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
K -edge and L3 -edge RIXS study of columnar and staggered quantum dimer phases of the square lattice Heisenberg modelHe, M., Datta, T. & Yao, D. X., Jan 30 2020, In: Physical Review B. 101, 2, 024426.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Capillary-Based Microfluidics—Coflow, Flow-Focusing, Electro-Coflow, Drops, Jets, and InstabilitiesGuerrero, J., Chang, Y. W., Fragkopoulos, A. A. & Fernandez-Nieves, A., Mar 1 2020, In: Small. 16, 9, 1904344.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review |
Detecting Crystallographic Lattice Chirality using Resonant Inelastic X-ray ScatteringMongan, S., Huang, Z., Datta, T., Nomura, T. & Yao, D. X., Dec 1 2019, In: Scientific reports. 9, 1, 12771.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Torque equilibrium spin wave theory study of anisotropy and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction effects on the indirect K -edge RIXS spectrum of a triangular lattice antiferromagnetJin, S., Luo, C., Datta, T. & Yao, D. X., Aug 8 2019, In: Physical Review B. 100, 5, 054410.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
Calibration of photoelastic modulator based dichrometers: Maintaining constant phase across the spectrumSutherland, J. C., Jul 20 2016, In: Journal of Instrumentation. 11, 7, P07016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review |
