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CONTACT US
UNDERGRADUATE
ADVISOR: Bret Hess
OFFICE: N251 ESC
PHONE: 801.422.2108
EMAIL: bret_hess@byu.edu
GRADUATE
ADVISOR: J. Ward Moody
OFFICE: N484 ESC
PHONE: 801.422.4347
EMAIL: jmoody@byu.edu
Oh look! It's a map. It will probably tell you where to go to find important people, room numbers, buildings, etcetera,
etcetera, etcetera. It may even lead you to buried treasure, but probably not.
RESEARCH AREAS
Dr. Peter Roming, a research scientist at Penn State said, "BYU Physics and Astronomy
students are undeniably some of the best prepared and most highly demanded
graduates available." This is largely because of the research opportunities available to
our students, both as undergraduates and graduates. All students have the opportunity
to learn from our 32-member faculty by participating in faculty-directed research
programs. These programs are enhanced by outstanding facilities and instrumentation,
including several anechoic and reverberation chambers, transmission electronic and
atomic force microscopes, an X-ray diffractometer, and a new 0.9-m telescope at the
West Mountain Observatory.
ACOUSTICS
ASTRONOMY
ATOMIC, MOLECULAR, AND OPTICAL
CONDENSED MATTER
THEORETICAL AND MATHEMATICAL PHYSICS
PLASMA
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Our students' thorough academic preparation, coupled with the department's strong
academic reputation, opens up prime post-graduation opportunities for further education
and excellent job placement. Through our website, students can explore a wealth of
information on potential careers available in Physics and Astronomy. Our programs also
make excellent pre-professional degrees for students wishing to pursue medicine, law,
or business. Students are consistently placed with prominent organizations such as
NASA, Boeing, Apple, Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Intel, JBL, and Caterpillar.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER // $67,600
SYSTEMS ENGINEER // $63,000
CIVIL ENGINEER // $64,700
MECHANICAL ENGINEER // $62,200
COMPUTER SCIENTIST // $57,700
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER // $65,000
PROGRAMMER // $91,700
IT CONSULTANT // $73,600
ACOUSTICS
When it comes to the study of sound in any form, the BYU Acoustics Research Group
(ARG) has definitely made some noise as one of the foremost acoustics programs in
the nation. The program is set apart by its resources alone. Students have access to
several anechoic chambers and reverberation rooms, in addition to supercomputing
facilities, the latest software, and microphone equipment, with this edge, the ARG
opens up a world of research possibilities. Students work with various items that
span the sound spectrum, including spy planes, Gatling guns, rockets, laptop fans,
fighter jets, large gongs, and exploding hydrogen balloons. Mentoring for studentdriven research is provided across the departments by full-time faculty who are
well-respected in the field. For anyone with an interest in acoustics, getting involved
can be as simple as attending the group's weekly meetings.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Brian E. Anderson
Timothy W Leishman
Scott D. Sommerfeldt
Kent L. Gee
Tracianne B. Nielsen
ASTRONOMY
We all get a little star-struck while looking up into the night sky; for some of us, that
turns into a way of life. BYU Astronomy is full of faculty and students who are
passionate about observing and understanding the infinite wonders above us. Active
research areas within the group include such topics as pulsating variable stars and
active galactic nuclei, among others. Students get directly involved in collecting and
publishing data, especially at the nearby West Mountain Observatory. Using the
three large telescopes there, students are able to see and measure bright objects
that are literally light years away, ROVOR, a remote telescope that is operated from
campus, is also available for photographing distant galaxies. Thanks to the
Astronomical Society, a student organization, fun stargazing activities are held
throughout the semester. Weekly shows are held at the renovated Royden G.
Derrick Planetarium in the Erying Science Center.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Clark G. Christensen
Michael D. Joner
Denise Stephens
Eric G. Hintz
Jeannette Lawler
Benjamin J. Taylor
Maureen Hintz
J. Ward Moody
ATOMIC, MOLECULAR, AND OPTICAL
The Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics Research Group (AMO Physics) spans
several labs that employ similar experimental and theoretical methods. Within this
diversity, undergraduate students are able to get directly involved in researching
and publishing-a rare thing among universities. Students play key roles in all
projects. In general, they study the interactions of light with matter in its simplest
forms. A few examples of specific research projects include cooling atoms, intense
laser interactions, particle accelerators, and creating x-rays and extreme ultraviolet
rays.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
David Allred
Dallin Durfee
Larry Rees
Scott Bergson
Larry Knight
R. Steven Turley
Manuel Berrondo
Justin Peatross
Michael Ware
PLASMA
Students who choose to get involved in this research group will find themselves
studying the complex phenomena of plasma. It is estimated that roughly 99.5% of
the known matter in the universe is in the plasma state, including everything from
the sun, stars. Lightning, neon signs, and plasma television screens. Because of its
ionized particles, plasma is a distinct state of matter, with very unique properties
that distinguish it from solids, liquids, or gases. The plasma physics community at
BYU includes those involved in basic physics research, modeling, industrial plasma
processing, controlled fusion experiments, and astrophysical and geophysical
plasma research.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Ross Spencer
Grant Hart
Bryan Peterson
THEORETICAL AND MATHEMATICAL
Theoretical physics is an exciting field, rich with insight to natural processes. As a
student in the research group, you will explore the universe through theories that
model physical events and predict conditions. Join the ranks of famous theoretical
physicists, like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, who have made an impact on their
world by probing the deeper structures of physical phenomena. Working alongside
top-faculty, students will use discussion, mathematical reasoning, computation, and
other methods to expose the tricks of the cosmos.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Manuel Berrondo
David Neilsen
Eric Hirschmann
Jean-Francois Van Huele
CONDENSED MATTER
Students researching in condensed matter physics make an impact on many kinds of
developing technology. Nationally, condensed matter physics is the largest and most
active area of physics research, comprising a wide range of topics related to the
study of solids as well as liquids. Through the group's several labs, students work
with faculty members on research with real-world applications. For example,
students are studying magnetic properties on a nanometric level, which impacts the
magnetic data storage industry. In addition to in-house diffraction experiments,
other labs in the group utilize state-of-the-art national and international scattering
facilities, allowing them to probe the once inaccessible features of matter.
Interdisciplinary research is done by the group with the Department of Chemistry 8.
Biochemistry and the College of Life Sciences. By adding an advanced degree to their
undergraduate research experience, students are able to obtain employment that
allows them to apply their knowledge.
ASSOCIATED FACULTY
Branton J. Campbell
Robert C. Davis
Harold T. Stokes
Kanne Chesnel
Gus Hart
Richard Vanfleet
John Cotton
Bret C. Hess