News Archive
Fernandes named Distinguished McKnight University Professor
Posted March 9, 2023
Professor Rafael Fernandes of the School of Physics and Astronomy has been named a 2023 Distinguished McKnight University Professor. Fernandes is a condensed matter theorist and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the School. He was cited for his research in quantum materials.
Student-planned NuSTAR observation reveals hidden light shows on the Sun
Posted February 22, 2023
Students at the School played a key role in planning a NuSTAR solar observation which could help shed light on one of the Sun’s biggest mysteries. UMN physics grad students Marianne Peterson and Reed Masek, as well as recent physics Ph.D. recipient Jessie Duncan, under the guidance of Associate Professor Lindsay Glesener, of the School of Physics and Astronomy, all worked on a successful proposal to NASA to use the NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array)--typically used to view bodies outside the solar system such as massive black holes and collapsed stars-- to observe the Sun. The group is also actively analyzing the data obtained from the observations.
Kelly Receives Borja Award
Posted January 27, 2023
Assistant Professor Patrick Kelly of the School of Physics and Astronomy has received the Guillermo E. Borja Award from the College of Science and Engineering.
Strobbe gets grant to study machine learning
Posted January 13, 2023
Nadja Strobbe, Assistant Professor in the School of Physics and Astronomy will receive $232,000.00 as part of a $4.3 million grant awarded by the Department of Energy to improve machine learning in high energy physics.
Robert O. Pepin, 1933-2023
Posted January 11, 2023
Professor Emeritus Robert Pepin of the School of Physics and Astronomy passed away on January 6 at the age of 89.
University theorists help shed new light on superconductivity in two-dimensional materials
Posted January 10, 2023
University of Minnesota Physics Ph.D. student Amartya Saha, working under the guidance of Prof. Turan Birol, from the Chemical Engineering and Materials Science department, and Prof. Rafael Fernandes, from the School of Physics and Astronomy, developed a theoretical model to elucidate the unusual superconducting properties displayed in a two dimensional semiconductor.
Unprecedented control: Wang Group demonstrates precise manipulation of electron waves in a novel graphene microcavity
Posted December 15, 2022
Device to focus electrons the same way light can be focused in a laser
Kelly leads study of Red-supergiant supernova images
Posted November 9, 2022
School of Physics and Astronomy Professor Patrick Kelly led a team that has measured the size of a star dating back more than 11 billion years ago using images that show the evolution of the star exploding and cooling. The research could help scientists learn more about the early Universe.
Alaei named Apker Finalist
Posted November 8, 2022
Sauviz Alaei, B.S. Physics, 22 was named a 2022 Leroy Apker Award Finalist by the American Physical Society. The LeRoy Apker Award recognizes outstanding achievements in physics by undergraduate students, and provides encouragement to students who have demonstrated great potential for future scientific accomplishment.
Pribiag group creates first few-mode multi-terminal Josephson junction
Posted October 27, 2022
Professor Vlad Pribiag from the School of Physics and Astronomy led a group effort that has experimentally realized a long-theorized few-mode multi-terminal Josephson junction.