Physics - Faculty of Science

Coordinators: Dr David Paganin (Research programs) and Dr Imants Svalbe (Postgraduate Coordinator)

The School of Physics offers world-class research opportunities for postgraduate candidates in experimental, theoretical and computational physics. Experimental research includes: condensed matter physics; coherent x-ray optics and synchrotron science; electron, atom and molecular optics; nanostructures (quantum dots/wells) based on III-V materials; electron, neutron and x-ray diffraction; thin films and surface physics; imaging sciences; PET, EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopy and advanced instrumentation and detector development. Theoretical areas include: optics, nanodynamics, particle cosmology, high temperature superconductivity, phase retrieval techniques for linear and non-linear classical and quantal systems, statistical dynamical diffraction theory, quantum gases (BECs), imaging light, and ab initio calculations using density functional theory.

The School is host to a number of prominent research centres, including the Monash Centre for Synchrotron Science, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-Ray Science and the CRC in Biomedical Imaging Development. It also plays a prominent role in the development of the Imaging and Therapy beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, which is located adjacent to the Clayton Campus of Monash University.

Research by Physics staff is conducted at numerous international synchrotron facilities (for example, SPring-8, Photon Factory, ESRF, CLS, DESY) and neutron facilities (ILL, Chalk River). Physics staff are also significant users of national facilities at ANSTO (HiFAR/OPAL). Significant instrumentation located in the School at the Clayton Campus includes a unique low energy electron microscope (LEEM) with MBE facility for growing and imaging GaAs quantum dots. Other major facilities include CT scanners, x-ray diffractometers, Mossbauer spectrometers, a FT-EPR spectrometer, thin film deposition facilities, scanning probe microscopes (STM/AFM), SEM/TEM and access to a FEG-TEM and 3D Atom Probe Field Ion Microscope. A new Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis Facility (EMMF), currently under construction adjacent to the School of Physics, will house a suite of state-of-the-art electron microscopes. The school is well supported by its own highly skilled technical staff in large and well-equipped mechanical and electronics workshops, which encompasses a commercial liquid Helium production facility, materials analysis, sample preparation and scientific imaging.

All higher degrees in Physics at Monash are conducted entirely by research, except for the Master of Science Preliminary, which comprises 50 per cent research and 50 per cent coursework. The latter involves units similar to those offered in the Physics BSc(Hons) program. Candidates entering with a BSc(Hons) are required to enrol initially in the Master of Science (MSc) program, from which they can apply to transfer to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) after one year. Applicants with a research-only MSc degree can enrol directly into the PhD program; however, they must serve a one year probationary period. Candidates work under the guidance of two assigned supervisors on an individual research project and are expected to attend school colloquia and contribute to research group seminars. Some research projects are multidisciplinary and may suit academically strong candidates from biomedicine, engineering, computing or mathematics.

For more details visit http://www.physics.monash.edu.au/research and http://www.physics.monash.edu.au/postgraduate.

Research projects are offered in the following areas.

X-ray and Synchrotron radiation physics

• Experimental and theoretical studies of x-ray physics and statistical dynamical diffraction theory
• X-ray optics, coherent x-ray imaging and x-ray detector development
• Investigation of novel diffraction and imaging techniques to characterise technologically important materials such as optoelectronic nanostructures
• Characterisation of quantum dots, wires and wells materials using hard x-ray synchrotron radiation
• X-ray phase retrieval, x-ray diffraction tomography, diffraction enhanced imaging, phase contrast imaging and phase sensitive tomography
• Development of a hard x-ray and imaging beamline at the Australian Synchrotron.

Molecular optics

• High intensity light field generation of non-resonant traps for neutral atoms and molecules
• Development of a Helium atom microscope
• Study of the fundamental interactions between molecules at low temperatures
• Study of molecular Bose-Einstein condensates.

Theoretical and computation physics

• Field theoretical studies in condensed matter
• Density functional theory
• Statistical mechanics and nanodynamics of surfaces
• Particle cosmology
• Topological defects in cosmology and condensed matter systems; geometric phases
• Theoretical optics, geometric phases and system theory for linear and nonlinear optics
• Vortex dynamics in classical and quantal systems
• Phase retrieval and inverse problems
• Bose-Einstein condensates and related systems
• Topology on discrete lattices.

Computed tomography

• Enhanced Positron Emission Tomography (PET) using scatter detection and correction
• Design and fabrication of energy and position sensitive detector arrays for PET and SPECT image acquisition
• Low-energy elastic scatter-computed tomography (CT) using synchrotron quality X-rays,
• High energy X-ray and gamma-ray CT system development for industrial materials, such as ceramics.

Medical physics

• Microbeam radiotherapy, dosimetry studies and tissue response for spatially fractionated large doses of x-ray radiation
• SAXS studies of normal and cancerous breast tissue
• Phase contrast imaging of the lung
• Fluid dynamical studies of fluid clearance of the lung
• Quantitative analysis of histology images after micro-beam radiation therapy treatment of aggressive cancers
• EPR studies of free radicals and oxidative stress in tissues.

Computer image processing

• Discrete Radon and Mojette transforms, image sampling and reconstruction
• Number theoretic connections in image processing
• Image reconstruction algorithms
• Quantitative analysis of histology images after micro-beam radiation therapy treatment of aggressive cancers
• High-fidelity mappings to enable images with high-dynamic ranges to be mapped onto visual display systems.

Electron scattering in materials

• Inelastic electron scattering in Si and GaAs
• Propagation of waves in disordered systems and phase transitions from extended to localised states
• Field theoretical studies in condensed matter; and theoretical models for nanodynamics
• Imaging light with electrons.

Magnetic studies

• Magnetism in disordered systems, including spin glass phases, frustrated systems, disordered antiferromagnets and random fields
• Measurements of magnetic susceptibility and magnetic neutron scattering; SQUID magnetometry
• Studies of new rare-earth-based permanent magnets.
• MF6ssbauer spectroscopy
• Magnetic and crystallographic properties of solids containing iron, rare earths, or gold and their relation to materials development and mineral processing
• Adsorption of gold and other metals onto activated carbon and polyurethane foams
• Magnetic properties of invar and iron-nickel meteorites, exchange-spring magnets, martensite materials, layered magnetic materials, poorly crystalline iron oxide and related minerals, and coal and coal products
• Multiple spectra MF6ssbauer data acquisition systems for imaging or time-dependent studies.

Thin films

• Electronic, magnetic and structural properties of RF-magnetron sputtered thin films
• Martensitic transformations with shape-memory characteristics
• Photovoltaics, fuel cells, and high temperature superconductors.

Physics education research

• How students conceptualise physics
• How physics is best learnt and taught
• Gender balance and physics
• Interactive aids for physics study
• Enhancing the experience of physics in schools.