Department of Physics

Physics at Oxford aspire to be one of the best physics departments in the world by conducting cutting-edge research and by teaching and developing the careers of the next generation of physicists. Physics work on major facilities worldwide, develop the most advanced experimental techniques and the most sophisticated theoretical methods to investigate nature at every scale. Oxford University Physics Department pursues fundamental science and in doing so make discoveries that enable them to contribute directly to tackling the challenging problems facing society.

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Title	Description	People	Date
What Can We Learn from Planetary Surveys?	In the fourth part of their discussion, Suzanne Aigrain and Michael Meyer discuss how we move from observations of exoplanets to conclusions about their types and formation. This discussion was conducted at Trinity College, Oxford, on February 12, 2016.	Suzanne Aigrain, Michael Meyer	20 April, 2016
Is Our Solar System Special?	In the third part of their discussion, Suzanne Aigrain and Michael Meyer discuss ways in which our solar system is unusual in its makeup and formation. This discussion was conducted at Trinity College, Oxford, on February 12, 2016.	Suzanne Aigrain, Michael Meyer	20 April, 2016
Fine-Tuning and the Scientific Process	In the second part of their discussion, Michael Meyer and Suzanne Aigrain talk about the way they, as working physicists, think of fine-tuning in complex planetary systems. This discussion was conducted at Trinity College, Oxford, on February 12, 2016.	Suzanne Aigrain, Michael Meyer	20 April, 2016
Telescope Design and the Search for Life	In the first part of their discussion, Michael Meyer and Suzanne Aigrain lay out the conditions for habitability on an exoplanet and challenges of looking for such planets. This discussion was conducted at Trinity College, Oxford, on February 12, 2016.	Suzanne Aigrain, Michael Meyer	20 April, 2016
Life in the Universe: Where and How Can We Find It?	In the fourth part of their discussion, Mario Livio and Joe Silk talk about the way planetary systems form and the preconditions for life-bearing planets to exist. This discussion was conducted at Trinity College, Oxford, on February 12, 2016	Joe Silk, Mario Livio	19 April, 2016
Testability, Physics, and the Multiverse	In the third part of their discussion, Mario Livio and Joe Silk ask: could our theories exceed our ability to test them? Have they already? This discussion was conducted at Trinity College, Oxford, on February 12, 2016.	Joe Silkl, Mario Livio	19 April, 2016
Biosignatures and the Search for Life	In the second part of their discussion, Joe Silk and Mario Livio go over biosignatures: things which, if observed, would be evidence for life. This discussion was conducted at Trinity College, Oxford, on February 12, 2016.	Joe Silk, Mario Livio	19 April, 2016
Life in the Universe: The Fermi Paradox	In the first part of their discussion, Joe Silk and Mario Livio consider the chances of life elsewhere in the universe. They talk about the Fermi paradox and responses to it. This discussion was conducted at Trinity College, Oxford, on February 12, 2016.	Joe Silk, Mario Livio	19 April, 2016
Explaining Fine-Tuning	Ard Louis in conversation with George Ellis. Part four - Explaining Fine-Tuning.	George Ellis, Ard Louis	12 April, 2016
Fine Tuning in Biology	Ard Louis in conversation with George Ellis. Part three - Fine Tuning in Biology.	George Ellis, Ard Louis	12 April, 2016
Possibility Spaces	Ard Louis in conversation with George Ellis. Part two - Possibility Spaces.	George Ellis, Ard Louis	12 April, 2016
Top Down Causation	Ard Louis in conversation with George Ellis. Part one - Top Down Causation.	George Ellis, Ard Louis	11 April, 2016
The Unity of the Universe	The Final Dennis Sciama Memorial Lecture delivered by Professor David Deutsch	David Deutsch	9 March, 2016
Engineering Defects in Diamond	Physics Colloquium 26th February 2016 delivered by Professor Mark Newton	Mark Newton	4 March, 2016
Optical Microscopy and Spectroscopy of Single Molecules and Single Plasmonic Gold Nanoparticles	Physics Colloquium 19th February 2016 delivered by Professor Michel Orrit	Michel Orrit	4 March, 2016
Fundamental constants and biology	George Ellis of the University of Cape Town shows how we can use a space of possibilities to assess the fragility of life. This talk was part of the Consolidation of Fine-Tuning Project's first workshop, "Life in the Universe", on November 3, 2015.	George Ellis	2 March, 2016
Assessing Fine-Tuning in Physics: How Many? How Fine? How Come?	Bernard Carr of Queen Mary University of London looks at sources of fine tuning in physics and their possible explanations. This talk was part of the Consolidation of Fine-Tuning Project's first workshop, "Life in the Universe", on November 3, 2015.	Bernard Carr	2 March, 2016
Stellarators, Fusion Energy and the Wendelstein 7-X Experiment	Physics Colloquium 29th January 2016 delivered by Professor Per Helender	Per Helender	19 February, 2016
Epidemics, Erdös Numbers and the Internet: the Physics of Networks	Physics Colloquium 12th February 2016 delivered by Professor Mark Newman	Mark Newman	19 February, 2016
DalitzFest	The Scientific Legacy of Dick Dalitz	Frank Close, Christopher Llewellyn-Smith	18 February, 2016
Quantum Computer Simulation of Chemistry and Materials: Advances and Perspectives	Physics Colloquium 5th February 2016 delivered by Professor Alán Aspuru-Guzik	Alán Aspuru-Guzik	11 February, 2016
How computers have changed the way we do physics - Breaking through the quantum barrier	The power of available computers has now grown exponentially for many decades. The ability to discover numerically the implications of equations and models has opened our eyes to previously hidden aspects of physics.	Thorsten Wahl	11 February, 2016
How computers have changed the way we do physics - Structure in complex systems	The power of available computers has now grown exponentially for many decades. The ability to discover numerically the implications of equations and models has opened our eyes to previously hidden aspects of physics.	Mark Newman	11 February, 2016
How computers have changed the way we do physics - Chaos and climate change	The power of available computers has now grown exponentially for many decades. The ability to discover numerically the implications of equations and models has opened our eyes to previously hidden aspects of physics.	Myles Allen	11 February, 2016
Seeing the High Energy Universe with IceCube	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 3rd morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Inner Space Meets Outer Space: Covering the Connections Between Cosmology and Particle Physics	Subir Sarkar	6 January, 2016
Growing Black Holes over 12 Billion Years	The 2015 Hintze Biannual Lecture delivered by Professor Meg Urry	Meg Urry	4 December, 2015
The Einstein Lens and a Tale of Two Eclipses	Physics Colloquium 20th November 2015 delivered by Professor Tom Ray	Tom Ray	24 November, 2015
At a Physics Info/Sci Intersection	Physics Colloquium 30th October 2015 delivered by Professer Paul Ginsparg	Paul Ginsparg	3 November, 2015
How hot will it get in a world run by economists? A physicist’s take on climate change policy	Physics Colloquium 23rd October 2015 delivered by Professor Myles Allen	Myles Allen	26 October, 2015
Gravitational lensing: one of the sharpest tools in an astronomer's toolbox	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the eighth Saturday Morning of Theoretical Physics on 19 September 2015. Talk 3 by Professor James Binney.	James Binney	24 September, 2015
General Relativity: what is it & why Einstein conceived it thus	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the eighth Saturday Morning of Theoretical Physics on 19 September 2015. Talk 2 by Professor John Wheater.	John Wheater	24 September, 2015
Cosmology from General Relativity	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the eighth Saturday Morning of Theoretical Physics on 19 September 2015. Talk 3 by Pedro Ferreira.	Pedro Ferreira	24 September, 2015
Understanding the Monsoon	The 2015 Halley Lecture delivered by Professor Peter J. Webster	Peter J. Webster	30 July, 2015
Parlez-vous Beams? The Frontier of Beam Physics and Accelerator Science: from High Energy Particle Colliders to Quantum Degenerate Beams	Physics Colloquium 12th June 2015 delivered by Professer Swapan Chattopadhyay	Swapan Chattopadhyay	17 June, 2015
The Quantum Universe	The 2015 Hintze Lecture delivered by Professor Hitoshi Murayama	Hitoshi Murayama	16 June, 2015
Chasing Fast Dynamos in the Plasma Lab	Physics Colloquium 29th May 2015 delivered by Professor Cary Forest	Cary Forest	8 June, 2015
Climate Observations from Space	Physics Colloquium 5th June 2015 delivered by Professor Stephen Briggs	Stephen Briggs	8 June, 2015
Cosmology from the Microwave Background	Physics Colloquium 22nd May 2015 delivered by Professor Jo Dunkley	Jo Dunkley	29 May, 2015
Everything from nothing, or how our universe was made	The 2015 Wetton Lecture delivered by Professor Carlos Frenk	Carlos Frenk	29 May, 2015
Making the Vacuum Concrete	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the first Saturday Morning of Theoretical Physics on 22 June 2013. The event focussed on how we use field theory to understand material reality.	Fabian Essler	21 May, 2015
Topological Boundary Modes from Quantum Electronics to Classical Mechanics	The 2015 Cherwell-Simon Lecture delivered by Professor Charles Kane	Charles Kane	20 May, 2015
Basics of Anyons and Nonabelian Aharanov-Bohm Effect	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 7th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the idea of quantum computation and the strange behaviour of certain types of fundamental particle.	John March-Russell	14 May, 2015
Knots, World-lines, and Topological Quantum Computation	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 7th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the idea of quantum computation and the strange behaviour of certain types of fundamental particle.	Steve Simon	14 May, 2015
Quantum Computing	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 7th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the idea of quantum computation and the strange behaviour of certain types of fundamental particle.	Andrew Steane	14 May, 2015
Searches for Dark Matter	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 6th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the ways in which ideas from theoretical particle physics guide the high energy accelerator program at CERN.	Ulrich Haisch	24 March, 2015
Precision Studies of the Higgs	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 6th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the ways in which ideas from theoretical particle physics guide the high energy accelerator program at CERN	Giulia Zanderighi	24 March, 2015
The Standard Model and the LHC	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 6th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the ways in which ideas from theoretical particle physics guide the high energy accelerator program at CERN.	Juan Rojo	24 March, 2015
The impact of black holes on the Universe	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 5th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Black holes: where physics reaches its limit.	James Binney	24 March, 2015
Black holes in the nearby Universe	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 5th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Black holes: where physics reaches its limit.	John Magorrian	24 March, 2015
Black holes in Einstein's gravity and beyond	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 5th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Black holes: where physics reaches its limit.	Andrei Starinets	24 March, 2015
Plasma tamed, fusion power and the theoretical challenge	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 4th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Plasmas: the normal form of matter and the key to unlimited energy.	Steven Cowley	24 March, 2015
Turbulence: Plasma Unleashed	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 4th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Plasmas: the normal form of matter and the key to unlimited energy.	Alexander Schekochihin	24 March, 2015
Plasma: what it is, how to make it and how to hold it	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 4th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Plasmas: the normal form of matter and the key to unlimited energy.	Felix Parra-Diaz	24 March, 2015
String Theory on the Sky	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 3rd morning of Theoretical Physics covering the connections between cosmology and particle physics.	David Marsh	24 March, 2015
Darkness Visible: The Hunt For Dark Matter	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 3rd morning of Theoretical Physics covering the connections between cosmology and particle physics.	Felix Kahlhoefer	24 March, 2015
Inner space meets outer space: Introduction	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 3rd morning of Theoretical Physics covering the connections between cosmology and particle physics.	Subir Sarkar	24 March, 2015
Motility in Living Matter: from molecular motors to bacterial swarms	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 1st morning of Theoretical Physics covering how we use field theory to understand material reality.	Julia Yeomans	24 March, 2015
Living Matter: a theoretical physics perspective	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 2nd morning of Theoretical Physics covering ideas from theoretical physics currently being applied to living systems.	Ramin Golestanian	24 March, 2015
Matter Emerges from the Vacuum	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 1st morning of Theoretical Physics covering how we use field theory to understand material reality.	Joseph Conlon	24 March, 2015
The Vacuum Comes Alive	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 1st morning of Theoretical Physics covering how we use field theory to understand material reality.	James Binney	24 March, 2015
The Higgs Boson and Particle Physics at the LHC: a Progress Report and Plans for the Future	Physics Colloquium 13th February 2015 Deliverd by Daniela Bortoletto	Daniela Bortoletto	16 March, 2015
Science with a crowd: The Zooniverse from Galaxy Zoo to LSST	Physics Colloquium 30th January 2015 delivered by Chris Lintott	Chris Lintott	16 March, 2015
Colours from Earth: preparing for exo-earth characterisation	Physics Colloquium 6th March 2015 deliverd by Robert Fosbury	Robert Fosbury	16 March, 2015
The Seven Wonders of Galaxy Zoo	Becky Smethurst shows how citizen science and the Galaxy Zoo project is helping researchers tackle difficult scientific questions.	Becky Smethurst	13 March, 2015
Astronomy at the Highest Energies Possible	Researcher Stephen Rayner talks on how astronomers study the highest energies possible to detect particle accelerators in space.	Stephen Rayner	13 March, 2015
Spectromania!	James Gilbert, a researcher in astrophysics gives an exciting talk on how astronomy uses Spectroscopy - the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy.	James Gilbert	13 March, 2015
How to see the world in a grain of sand	Peter Hatfield gives an astronomy talk entitled: How to see the world in a grain of sand and the entire Universe in a super computer.	Peter Hatfield	13 March, 2015
The Beagle expedition to Mars	The Beagle 2 probe had not been seen or heard from since December 2003 and had been presumed lost. Researcher Chris Linttot gives an overview and shows newly found images of the probe on the surface of Mars.	Chris Lintott	13 March, 2015
The Philae - Rosetta Mission (update)	Researcher Colin Wilson gives an update on the Rosetta mission with the latest news on the Philae comet lander	Colin Wilson	13 March, 2015
LHC searches for dark matter	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 6th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the ways in which ideas from theoretical particle physics guide the high energy accelerator program at CERN	Ulrich Haisch	12 February, 2015
Precision Studies of the Higgs	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 6th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the ways in which ideas from theoretical particle physics guide the high energy accelerator program at CERN	Giulia Zanderighi	12 February, 2015
The Standard Model and the LHC! in the Higgs Boson Era	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 6th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the ways in which ideas from theoretical particle physics guide the high energy accelerator programme at CERN.	Juan Rojo	12 February, 2015
Matter Emerges from the Vacuum	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the first Saturday Morning of Theoretical Physics on 22 June 2013. The event focussed on how we use field theory to understand material reality.	Joseph Conlon	4 February, 2015
Plasma Tamed, Fusion Power and the Theoretical Challenge	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 4th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Plasmas: the normal form of matter and the key to unlimited energy.	Steve Cowley	29 January, 2015
String Theory on the Sky	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 3rd morning of Theoretical Physics. The event focused on the interface between theoretical developments in particle physics and astrophysics/cosmology.	David Marsh	29 January, 2015
From you to the largest structure in the Universe	Robert Simpson, an astronomy researcher from Oxford takes us on a tour of the Universe, explaining the incredible distances and relative dimensions of space.	Robert Simpson	19 December, 2014
Gloomy Worlds: Why are planets cloudy?	Jo Barstow explains the complex science behind the clouds that surround the planets.	Jo Barstow	19 December, 2014
The Philae - Rosetta Comet Mission	On 12 November 2014, the Philae probe achieved the first-ever soft landing on a comet nucleus. Colin Wilson, a researcher from Oxford, gives an update on the landing and explains the history and science behind this incredible mission.	Colin Wilson	19 December, 2014
Black Holes, Axions and the Gravitational Atom in the Sky	Physics Colloquium 5th December 2014 delivered by Dr Asimina Arvanitak	Asimina Arvanitak	17 December, 2014
The Vacuum Comes Alive	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 1st morning of Theoretical Physics covering how we use field theory to understand material reality	James Binney	15 December, 2014
Living Matter: a theoretical physics perspective	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 2nd morning of Theoretical Physics covering ideas from theoretical physics currently being applied to living systems	Ramin Golestanian	15 December, 2014
Motility in Living Matter	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 2nd morning of Theoretical Physics covering ideas from theoretical physics currently being applied to living systems	Julia Yeomans	15 December, 2014
Inner Space Meets Outer Space	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 4th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the connections between cosmology and particle physics.	Subir Sarkar	15 December, 2014
Darkness Visible: The Hunt For Dark Matter	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 4th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the connections between cosmology and particle physics.	Felix Kahlhoefer	15 December, 2014
Plasma: What It Is, How To Make It and How To Hold It	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 4th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Plasmas: the normal form of matter and the key to unlimited energy	Felix Parra-Diaz	15 December, 2014
Turbulence: Plasma Unleashed	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 4th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Plasmas: the normal form of matter and the key to unlimited energy	Alexander Schekochihin	15 December, 2014
Ice Cores, Climate and Sea Ice	Physics Colloquium 14th November 2014 delivered by Prof Eric Wolff	Eric Wolff	2 December, 2014
Inside the Centre: The Life and Work of J. Robert Oppenheimer	Physics Colloquium 21st November 2014 delivered by Prof Ray Monk	Ray Monk	2 December, 2014
Millisecond Pulsars, Magnetars, and Black Holes: The Wickedly Cool Stellar Undead	The 9th Hintze Lecture delivered by Professor Scott Ransom	Scott Ransom	2 December, 2014
A Physicist’s View of the Emergence of Terrestrial Vertebrates	Physics Colloquium 7th November 2014. Delivered by Professor Steve Balbus, Savilian Professor of Astronomy, Head of Astrophysics, University of Oxford.	Steve Balbus	1 December, 2014
Science and the Art of Inventiveness	Physics Colloquium 24th October 2014. Delivered by Professor Andrei Seryi, Director of the John Adams Institute.	Andrei Seryi	1 December, 2014
Black holes in the nearby Universe	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 5th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Black holes: where physics reaches its limit.	John Magorrian	5 November, 2014
The impact of black holes on the Universe	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 5th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Black holes: where physics reaches its limit.	James Binney	5 November, 2014
Black holes in Einstein's gravity and beyond	Members of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics hosted the 5th morning of Theoretical Physics covering the subject of Black holes: where physics reaches its limit.	Andrei Starinets	5 November, 2014
21. Mean Field Theory and Closing Thoughts	Last in a series of 21 lectures on solid state physics, delivered by Professor Steven H. Simon in early 2014.	Steven H. Simon	10 September, 2014
20. Collective Magnetism	Lecture 20 in a series of 21 lectures on solid state physics, delivered by Professor Steven H. Simon in early 2014.	Steven H. Simon	10 September, 2014
19. Magnetic Properties of Atoms	Lecture 19 in a series of 21 lectures on solid state physics, delivered by Professor Steven H. Simon in early 2014.	Steven H. Simon	10 September, 2014
18. Semiconductor Devices and Introduction to Magnetism	Lecture 18 in a series of 21 lectures on solid state physics, delivered by Professor Steven H. Simon in early 2014.	Steven H. Simon	10 September, 2014
17. Dynamics of Electrons in Bands	Lecture 17 in a series of 21 lectures on solid state physics, delivered by Professor Steven H. Simon in early 2014.	Steven H. Simon	10 September, 2014
16. Band Structure and Optical Properties of Solids	Lecture 16 in a series of 21 lectures on solid state physics, delivered by Professor Steven H. Simon in early 2014.	Steven H. Simon	9 September, 2014

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