Astronomy and Astrophysics
The Astronomy & Astrophysics Group at Florida Tech is concerned primarily with observational and theoretical studies of white dwarf stars, M dwarf stars, and cataclysmic variable systems. We are the lead institution in the Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA), and have a 15% share of this 0.9-m telescope facility located at Kitt Peak National Observatory outside Tucson, Arizona. The picture at right was taken at SARA by former Florida Tech student Vanessa Wilkat. Faculty: Terry Oswalt, Hakeem Oluseyi, Eric Perlman, Stephane Vennes, and Matt Wood.

Condensed Matter Physics

The research in condensed matter physics group of Florida Tech covers materials physics, statistical physics, scanning tunneling microscopy and optical spectroscopy of semiconductors, and engineering physics. One of goals is to understand nucleation and growth mechanisms, and evolution of microstructures and nanostructures in materials, to optimize these structures, and finally to design new structures. Another goal is to link processing and structures to various properties of materials, and to predict property of materials by multiscale modeling. Materials include hard and soft materials such as alloys, nanocomposites, colloids, and polymers. The group also closely works with members of Materials Science and Nanotechnology Institute directed by the Dean of College of Science, Dr. Nelson. The group also explores the application of statistical physics to anomalous diffusion and relaxation processes in heterogeneous system, biophysics, materials science, and econophysics. The image at right is one microstructure of alloy from Prof. Wang, and a movie can be downloaded from APS website (see Wang et al, Phys. Rev. E 73, 061502 (2006)). Faculty: Dwayne McCay, Hakeem Oluseyi, Ke-Gang Wang, and Assistant Research Professor Mantovani (Kennedy Space Flight Center, FL).

Experimental High Energy Physics
The experimental High Energy Physics group’s work is centered around the L3 and CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) experiments at the European Center for Particle Physics. These experiments are conducted by international collaborations of scientists, making precision measurements of the laws governing the known elementary particles and the fundamental forces between them, as well as searching for new phenomena such as the Higgs and supersymmetric particles. Faculty: Marc Baarmand, Laszlo Baksay, and Marcus Hohlmann.

Lightning
The Lightning Research Group in the Geospace Physics Laboratory primarily investigates the role of runaway breakdown in thunderstorms, lightning and in the upper atmosphere.  In particular, x-ray measurements of natural and rocket-triggered lightning are performed at the UF/Florida Tech International Center for lightning Research and Testing (ICLRT) at Camp Blanding, FL.  Work also includes theoretical investigations of terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs), lightning initiation processes, thunderstorm electrification, and runaway breakdown.  Faculty: Joseph Dwyer and Hamid Rassoul; Post-doctoral research scientist: Lee Coleman

Space Physics
The Space Physics Group works in conjuction with Geospace Physics Laboratory (GPL) at Florida Tech. Current research topics include studying the Solar-Earth magnetospheric and ionospheric interactions, cosmic ray propagation from their source in the galaxies to the interplanetary system (NASA), relativistic charged particle propagation from the Jovian magnetosphere, development of a meriodinal array of magnetometers up the East coast of the United States (NSF) and detection of energetic radiation from rocket triggered lightning (NSF). The Space Physics Group also designs and fabricates particle and high-energy radiation detectors. Faculty: Joseph Dwyer, Ramon Lopez, Hakeem Oluseyi, Hamid Rassoul, Niescja Turner, and Ming Zhang.