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Duke University - Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Department of PhysicsDepartment of Physics
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Arun Kannawadi Profile Feature
Cool Cosmology + Coding
Arun Kannawadi finds answers to life’s big questions
Divine Kumah standing in front of French Family Science Center
Atom by Atom
Physicist Divine Kumah is designing the next generation of electronic materials
Undergraduate students on the left and Ph.D graduates on the right
Class of 2023
Congratulations to all our graduating majors, minors, master's and Ph.D. recipients
Physics Majors & Minor
Biophysics Majors
Ph.D. Requirements
Our Faculty

About Us

Known for our award-winning faculty and research, Duke's Department of Physics includes a nationally-recognized doctoral program, and offers undergraduate degrees in physics and biophysics. Our research – focused in 11 key areas – is internationally well recognized and focused on the scientific challenges of the 21st century. As part of Duke’s highly collaborative approach to research, we have established faculty labs and research groups where our faculty and students work closely with other departments across the University, as well as with academic institutions and major research facilities nationally and abroad.

Learn More

Key Research Areas

  • Atomic/Molecular/Optical (AMO) Physics
  • Biological Physics
  • Condensed Matter & Materials Physics
  • Cosmology & Astrophysics
  • Experimental Nuclear Physics
  • High Energy Physics
  • Imaging & Medical Physics
  • Mathematical Physics
  • Nonlinear & Complex Systems
  • Quantum Information Science
  • Theoretical Nuclear & Particle Physics

Events

Dec Dec
15 15
Stargazing
8:00 pm 10:00 pm
Duke Teaching Observatory

Jan Jan
12 12
Triangle Quantum Computing Seminar
2:00 pm 3:00 pm
4700 Chesterfield, 701 W Main Street

Jan Jan
19 19
Triangle Quantum Computing Seminar
2:00 pm 3:00 pm
4700 Chesterfield, 701 W Main Street

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News

  • Martin Fischer Elected Fellow Member of Optica
    Martin Fischer Elected Fellow Member of Optica
  • Roxane Springer smiles at the camera against a grey background
    Roxanne Springer Receives APS's 2023 Distinguished Service Award
  • Taking a Larger View of the Universe
    Taking a Larger View of the Universe (clicking this link will take you away from this site)
  • New Devils 2027: Clare Meehan
    New Devils 2027: Clare Meehan (clicking this link will take you away from this site)
See All News
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Faculty Journal Articles Published Annually
400+
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Primary, Secondary & Joint Faculty Members
56
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Graduate Students
94
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Department of Physics

Physics Building,
120 Science Drive

Campus Box 90305
Durham, NC 27708
(919) 660-2500

Academic Degrees

Ph.D. Program
Majors in Physics
Majors in Biophysics
Minor in Physics

Undergraduates

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  • About Us
    • Administrative Website
    • Our Facilities
    • Advanced Light Imaging and Spectroscopy (ALIS) facility
    • Instrument Shop
    • Instructional Machine Shop
    • Duke Teaching Observatory
    • Directions & Maps
    • Our History
      • 1924 to 1945
      • 1946 to 1962
      • 1963 to 1985
      • 1986 to 2005
      • Faculty Interviews
      • Historical Faculty
        • Lawrence C. Biedenharn
        • Edward G. Bilpuch
        • William M. Fairbank
        • Walter Gordy
        • Harold W. Lewis
        • Fritz London
        • Henry W. Newson
        • Walter M. Nielsen
        • Lothar W. Nordheim
        • Hertha Sponer
        • William D. Walker
      • Department Chairs
      • Former and Current Faculty
    • Statement on Conduct
    • Conduct Accountability Committee
    • Department Resources
    • Leadership & Department Contacts
    • Fritz London Memorial Prize
    • Fritz London Memorial Lecture
  • Undergraduate
    • For Prospective Students
      • Learning About Physics
      • Learning About Biophysics
      • Credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP)
    • Physics Majors & Minor
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    • All Courses
    • Non-Physics Majors
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    • Astrophysics
    • Atomic, Molecular & Optics
    • BioPhysics
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  • People
    • Primary and Joint Faculty
    • Secondary Faculty
    • Research, Teaching or Adjunct Faculty
    • Emeritus Faculty
    • Staff
    • Researchers
    • Graduate Students
  • Research
    • Research Areas
      • Atomic/Molecular/Optical (AMO) Physics
      • Biological Physics
      • Condensed Matter & Materials Physics
      • Cosmology & Astrophysics
      • Experimental Nuclear Physics
      • Mathematical Physics
      • High Energy Physics
      • Imaging & Medical Physics
      • Nonlinear & Complex Systems
      • Quantum Information Science
      • Theoretical Nuclear & Particle Physics
    • Research Labs
    • Big Questions
      • BQ1: What are the ultimate laws of nature?
      • BQ2: What principles govern strongly interacting matter?
      • BQ3: How does quantum physics explain and predict novel materials?
      • BQ4: How can we understand complex soft matter and biological systems?
      • BQ5: How can physics research improve the practice of medicine?
      • BQ6: How does physics drive the information and computing revolutions?
      • BQ7: How can we use physics to benefit society?
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