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Theoretical physics

Much of the theoretical work in the School compliments the experimental programs in areas such as the transport studies in semiconductors, photonics and optical communications.

One of the most exciting areas of modern theoretical physics is the modelling of the behaviour of complex systems such as climate patterns and the turbulent flow of fluids. RSPhysSE is one of the major players in the ARC Research Network for Complex Systems with many of our researchers undertaking research in this field.

The School also has strong research interests in Nonlinear optics and solitons, developing basic theories of solitons for optical systems that including all-optical information transmission lines and ultra-short pulse lasers. This work also extends to the design of specific novel planar and fibre light processing devices, including those with the potential for commercialisation.

Selected research highlights

Selected available student research projects

project illustration
To infer properties of pulsar plasmas from polarization-resolved pulsar data
Dr Matthew Hole , Professor I Cairns
This project aims to give an introduction into the geometric Langlands program
This project will examine exactly solved models in quantum statistical mechanics to provide a quantitative understanding of the collective nature of an impurity immersed in a fermionic environment.

Updated:  18 July 2011/Responsible Officer:  Director, RSPE /Page Contact:  Physics Webmaster