Montana State University

Department of Physics

Montana State University
P.O. Box 173840
Bozeman, MT 59717-3840

Tel: (406) 994-3614
Fax: (406) 994-4452
Location: EPS building, Room 264



Department Head:
Prof. Richard J. Smith
Homepage

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Department of Physics


 Congratulations to Nico Yunes on his recently announced NSF CAREER award for young investigators. Read more...
Dick Smith 05/16/13
 Angela DesJardins and Nico Yunes have been selected for the designation of College of Letters & Science Fellows in Engagement for 2013-14. These appointments are in connection with the MSU Year of Engaged Leadership. Both will be pursuing activities that engage with the community during the 13-14 AY, and will give a public presentation at some point in the year. These awards recognize in part the very significant contributions that Nico (Celebrate Einstein) and Angela (E/PO through MSGC) have made and will continue to pursue in our mission to communicate science to the public. Congratulations, Nico and Angela, and thank you for your tremendous efforts in outreach to our supporters.
Dick Smith 05/16/13
 The Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph spacecraft, or IRIS, is being prepared for a June launch. IRIS is outfitted with an ultraviolet telescope and spectrograph to help scientists understand the interface region between the sun's photosphere and corona. The group of Charles Kankelborg at MSU is a part of the IRIS team that has developed the telescope.
More information...
Dick Smith 04/30/13

 Three Bozeman companies have been selected recently for awards through the NASA SBIR and SBIR Select Phase I program. Anasphere is an MSGC Affiliate and MSGC and Physics students have worked there as well as at AdvR and Bridger Photonics. These awards keep Montana among the higher achieving companies for NASA SBIR/STTR awards. The companies and project titles are:
Bridger Photonics, Inc. Compact, Rugged and Low-Cost Atmospheric Ozone DIAL Transmitter
Anasphere, Inc. Droplet-Sizing Liquid Water Content Sensor  
ADVR, Inc.  Iodine Stabilized Seed Laser for Space Applications
Dick Smith 04/30/13

 Congratulations to all our award winners for 2013!
Read more...

Dick Smith 04/30/13


Welcome to the Department of Physics website!

"Our department is committed to education and research in physics, the study of the fundamental universal laws that govern the behavior of matter and energy, and the exploration of the consequences and applications of those laws.

Our department is widely known for its excellent teaching and student mentoring. Our department plays an important role in the university’s Core Curriculum. We have strong academic programs with several options for undergraduate physics majors, leading to the B.S. degree, as well as graduate curricula leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

Our research groups span a variety of fields within physics. Our principal concentrations are in Astrophysics, Relativity, Gravitation and Cosmology, Condensed Matter Physics, Lasers and Optics, Physics Education, Solar Physics, and the Space Science and Engineering Lab.

Numerous outreach activities carry physics to K-12 teachers, classrooms, and the general public. NASA’s Montana Space Grant Consortium is hosted by the Physics Department.

Student involvement is central to all of our education, research, and outreach activities in Physics at MSU.

The accomplishments of our teaching, research, and outreach programs are a tribute to the extraordinary efforts of the faculty, research staff, graduate and undergraduate students, backed up by an outstanding and highly motivated support staff.

We offer an invigorating intellectual environment in a geographic area of unsurpassed physical beauty. Consider joining us for a visit, for a summer, a degree program, or a career!"

Dr. Richard J Smith
Head, Department of Physics
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