Physics

The Physics PhD program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) is structured to provide concentrations in materials and solid-state physics, optics and astrophysics with research opportunities in each area. 

The research in the materials and solid-state physics concentration includes the classical and quantum properties of condensed matter, with emphases on solid-state, surface physics and polymer physics.

The research in the optics concentration includes the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter, with emphases on optical and infrared spectroscopy, nonlinear optics, quantum optics, quantum computing, light scattering, atmospheric optics and atmospheric physics.

The research in astrophysics focuses on the analysis of high-energy observations and examination of galaxy formation.

Features

The general research areas have sufficient overlap that students can benefit from courses offered in other areas. Both optics and materials areas have relevance to research programs in other University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)  departments including physical chemistry, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.

The astrophysics program has a strong link to the facilities at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Physics Physics graduate students have the opportunity to interact with graduate students and faculty in several other departments at UMBC and local government laboratories.

Research in the UMBC Physics Department is centered in 4 main areas:

• condensed matter physics
• quantum optics and quantum information science
• astrophysics
• atmospheric physic