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Department of Physics and Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy has a rich and long history dating back to the latter part of the 19th century. Our faculty and students are exploring nature at all length scales, from the subatomic (quarks and gluons) to the macroscopic (black holes and dark energy), and everything in between (atomic and biological systems).

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Professor Andreas Jung of Purdue Physics and Astronomy

Purdue Physics and Astronomy professor Andreas Jung’s research sits at the intersection of particle physics, detector mechanics, AI, machine learning and quantum computing. Watch the full-length video on how Jung and his team are tackling real-world problems, training students, and helping shape the future of physics at Purdue.

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2 Purdue AI research projects selected among the first Genesis Mission awards

Two Purdue University faculty are leading separate projects recently announced for funding by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Genesis Mission awards. Purdue is the only university in Indiana to lead projects under AI-focused research awards. Wei Xie, professor of physics and astronomy, was one of the awardees.

Antimatter under a sharper lens: Purdue physicist helps ALPHA Collaboration test one of nature's biggest questions

Why is the universe filled with matter when our best theories say matter and antimatter should behave almost exactly the same way? A new Nature study from CERN's ALPHA Collaboration is putting that question under a sharper lens, measuring a key property of antihydrogen with 100 times greater precision than previous measurements. Purdue University physicist Francis Robicheaux contributed simulations that helped researchers interpret what was happening to antihydrogen atoms inside the experiment.

On a flight into space, Purdue researchers will test forces that could determine how we find our way, build and survive in space

In 2027, Purdue researchers will follow that bead of liquid aboard a Virgin Galactic spacecraft and into microgravity, chasing answers that could determine how spacecraft navigate, how manufacturing for the supply chain can be accomplished in space, and how humans can survive and function there.

The Road to the Stars: Five out-of-this-world facts about campus astronomical observatories

AAC&U — Five out-of-this-world facts about campus astronomical observatories. PhysAstro's Danny Milisavljevic was quoted in the article.

AAS Journal Author Series: Miranda Pikus and Paul Duffell

YouTube — Miranda Pikus and Paul Duffell (Purdue University) chat about their article on how thermal cooling creates structural changes in supernova remnants as they evolve, finding that when the cooling timescale is shorter that ~1/400 of the Sedov time, the ejecta are shaped into a filamentary structure similar to Pa 30. The filament structures are created by the formation of Rayleigh–Taylor instability fingers where the cooling has prevented the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability from overturning and mixing out the tips.

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Department of Physics and Astronomy, 525 Northwestern Avenue, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2036 • Phone: (765) 494-3000 • Fax: (765) 494-0706

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