Physics: Frontiers

1
Physics Frontiers

• Experimental High Energy Physics
• Need advanced lab and instrumentation knowledge
• Hottest lab CERN on Swiss/French border
• Theoretical High Energy Physics
• Need quantum field theory (QFT), math, computer
  simulation, general relativity (GR)
• Hottest topic String Theory

2
Physics Frontiers 2

• Observational Astrophysics Cosmology
• Need advanced lab spacecraft instrumentation
  knowledge
• Many hot topics dark matter, galaxy formation,
  black holes, extrasolar planets...
• Theoretical Astrophysics Cosmology
• Need QFT GR, simulation/modeling knowledge
• Hottest topics singularities, dark matter,
  origin, string theory

3
Physics Frontiers 3

• AMO Physics
• Theory Need quantum, quantum electrodynamics,
  QFT, quantum optics, computer simulation,
  statistical mechanics
• Experiment Need quantum, advanced lab
  instrumentation knowledge
• Hottest topics Entangled states, quantum
  computing, laser/matter interaction, exotic
  lasers

4
Physics Frontiers 4

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Theory Need quantum, stat. mech.,
  simulation/modeling knowledge
• Experiment Need advanced lab instrumentation
  knowledge, characterization devices
• Hottest topics nanoscience/technology, soft
  matter, biophysics, high Tc superconductors, etc

5
Physics Frontiers 5

• Plasma Physics
• Theoretical Need plasma dynamics, stat. mech.,
  electrodynamics, fluid dynamics, simulation
  modeling knowledge
• Experimental Need advanced lab,
  instrumentation, plasma diagnostics
• Hot topics instabilities, self-organization,
  fusion, space astrophysical plasmas

6
Physics Frontiers 6

• Nonlinear Complex Systems
• Theoretical Need nonlinear dynamics,
  statistical mechanics, fluid dynamics,
  simulation/modeling knowledge
• Experimental Need advanced lab
  instrumentation knowledge
• Hot topics chaos control and application,
  self-organized criticality, granular systems,
  neural physics, much more...

7
Physics Frontiers 7

• Anything you can think of...
• Physics is applicable to anything in physical
  reality, as far as we know!
• Physics theories and techniques are also
  applicable outside science
• Financial modeling
• Systems analysis
• Sports, biomechanics
• Cognitive science, learning theory
• etc

8
Engineering Subfields

• UIUC departments
• Aerospace Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Industrial Enterprise Systems Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical Science and Engineering
• Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering

9
What the Engineers Say(UIUC departments)

• Aerospace Engineering
• Aerospace engineers design, analyze, model,
  simulate, and test aircraft, spacecraft,
  satellites, missiles, rockets, and the larger
  systems in which these vehicles operate.
• (http//ae.engr.uiuc.edu/index.php?optioncom_cont
  enttaskviewid29Itemid128)
• Bioengineering
• Bioengineering combines the analytical and
  experimental methods of the engineering
  profession with the biological and medical
  sciences to achieve a more detailed understanding
  of biological phenomena and to develop new
  techniques and devices. (http//www.bioen.uiuc.ed
  u/about.html)

10
What the Engineers Say 2

• Civil Environmental Engineering
• Civil engineering is a profession that applies
  the basic principles of science in conjunction
  with mathematical and computational tools to
  solve problems associated with developing and
  sustaining civilized life on our planet. Some of
  the most common examples of civil engineering
  works include bridges, buildings, dams, airports,
  highways, tunnels, and water distribution
  systems. (http//cee.uiuc.edu/programs/Undergrad/
  Default.html)
• Computer Engineering
• Computer engineering is a discipline that
  applies principles of physics and mathematics to
  the design, implementation, and analysis of
  computer and communication systems. The
  discipline is broad, spanning topics as diverse
  as radio communications, coding and encryption,
  computer architecture, testing and analysis of
  computer and communication systems, vision, and
  robotics. (http//ece.engr.uiuc.edu/freshmen/ce-c
  urriculum.html)

11
What the Engineers Say 3

• Computer Science
• This curriculum is offered for students seeking
  a broad and deep knowledge of the theory, design,
  and applications of digital computers.
  (http//cs.engr.uiuc.edu/undergraduate/programs.ph
  p)
• Electrical Engineering
• A list of the twenty greatest engineering
  achievements of the twentieth century compiled by
  the National Academy of Engineering includes ten
  achievements primarily related to the field of
  electrical engineering electrification,
  electronics, radio and television, computers,
  telephone, internet, imaging, household
  appliances, health technologies, and laser and
  fiber optics.. (http//ece.engr.uiuc.edu/freshmen
  /ee-curriculum-06.html)

12
What the Engineers Say 4

• Industrial and Systems Enterprise Engineering
• The General Engineering undergraduate
• program offers a wide variety of disciplines
  ranging from control systems and
  decision- making to mechanics and
  structures. In the Industrial
  Engineering undergraduate program, students will
  learn how to create and manage systems that
  integrate people, materials and energy in
  productive ways. (http//www.iese.uiuc.edu/ugrad/
  )
• Materials Science Engineering
• MatSE undergraduates study an interdisciplinary
  field that encompasses math, chemistry, physics,
  mechanics, and electronics. Students focus on
  one of five areas biomaterials, ceramics,
  electronic materials, metals, or polymers while
  exploring properties and phenomena that span
  all classes of materials. (http//www.mse.uiuc.e
  du/undergradindex.html)

13
What the Engineers Say 5

• Mechanical Science Engineering
• mechanical engineering affects all aspects of
  our lives and embraces many areas of
  specialization automotive systems
  bioengineering combustion and propulsion
  design methodology and tribology dynamic
  systems and controls energy systems and
  thermodynamics fluid mechanics heat transfer
  manufacturing and production materials behavior
  and processing and microscale and nanoscale
  phenomena and systems. (http//www.mechse.uiuc.ed
  u/content/about/academics/mechanical_engineering.p
  hp)
• Nuclear, Plasma Radiological Engineering
• Nuclear, plasma and radiological engineering
  is a branch of engineering that is
  concerned with the development and use of
  nuclear energy and radiation sources for a
  wide variety of applications in
  energy production, in materials processing and
  science, and for biomedical and industrial
  uses. (http//www.ne.uiuc.edu/curriculum.html)

14
Engineering Whats that Field?

• Design engines for diesel trucks
• Develop a novel ultra-light material for use in
  manufacturing canoes
• Write a new computer operating system

15
Engineering Whats that Field? 2

• Design new supercomputer architecture
• Develop a novel semiconductor
• Design a manufacturing system for an industrial
  shop floor

16
Engineering Whats that Field? 3

• Design a new wastewater treatment system
• Design a robotic vision system for an automated
  lawn mowing system
• Model engineering systems for a large corporation
  

17
Engineering Whats that Field? 4

• Design a radiation cancer treatment center for a
  hospital
• Design a quiet and more efficient supersonic
  transport airplane
• Prove theorems on the computational efficiency of
  a new optimization algorithm

18
Engineering Whats that Field? 5

• Build models of military operations in a mock
  warfare scenario
• Design a new user-interface for a more friendly
  computer usage environment
• Design a new pole-vault pole