PHYSICS

The Department of Physics at Colorado School of Mines is dedicated to high-quality physics education for undergraduate and graduate students and advancing the world’s knowledge in the areas of condensed matter physics, optical physics, quantum physics, renewable energy physics, and subatomic physics.

Education and Research

Our faculty and students at all levels conduct more than $6 million in externally funded research every year, with many projects associated with Mines’ pioneering research centers.

Research centers with strong connections to Physics include the Mines/NREL Nexus, High Performance Computing (HPC), the Microintegrated Optics for Advanced Bioimaging and Control Center (MOABC), and the Nuclear Science and Engineering Center (NuSEC).

Our faculty are consistently recognized for both their research and their teaching, while our graduate and undergraduate students are often the recipients of awards and grants.

Physics is also heavily involved with Mines’ interdisciplinary graduate programs in Materials Science, Nuclear Engineering, and Quantum Engineering.

Watch the video below to learn more about the varied and exciting physics research taking place at Mines.

The Campaign for Mines @ 150

Upcoming Events

Announcements & Info

Mines Support Services
Physics Colloquium

April 2 @ 4:00 PM
CTLM 102
For more information, please contact
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Dr. Rahul Nandkishore

University of Colorado @ Boulder

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Ergodicity Breaking in Quantum Dynamics

More Info

Abstract: When can isolated many body quantum systems fail to go to equilibrium under their own dynamics, and how robust can this `ergodicity breaking’ be? This question has been a central theme of research in quantum dynamics over the past decade, and I will share with you some highlights, focusing on three key developments: many body localization, dynamics with multipolar symmetries, and dynamics with higher form symmetries. I will present the rich and exotic phenomena that arise in these three regimes, and how they may be realized experimentally. I will then discuss some key open directions for the field.

Bio: Rahul Nandkishore is a theoretical physicist interested in a broad range of problems, from non-equilibrium quantum dynamics, to exotic phases of matter, to effects arising from interplay of interactions and disorder in both solid state and synthetic quantum systems. He received his PhD in 2012 from MIT, then spent three years at the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science as a postdoctoral fellow, before moving to a faculty position at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he has been ever since. He is Associate Professor of Physics at Boulder, and Director of the Boulder Center for Theory of Quantum Matter. He is known for his work on graphene and Dirac semimetals, on many body localization, on fracton phases of matter, and on constrained quantum dynamics. His research has been recognized by numerous awards including Young Investigator awards from the U.S. Department of Defense, a Sloan Research Fellowship, and a Simons Fellowship in Theoretical Physics.

News

News

Elevate Quantum puts Colorado – and Mines – at forefront of future innovation… and Physics is hiring!
Assistant Professor, Quantum Sciences


Mines researchers, led by Physics Assistant Professor Zhexuan Gong, contribute to creation of world’s first quantum magnet in one dimension


Colorado designated as official tech hub for quantum industry. What does that mean?
Dr. Lincoln Carr, professor of physics and Mines’ representative to Elevate Quantum, talks about Colorado’s role as a quantum hub and what quantum engineering means to the future of computing.


Dr. Tim Ohno awarded Jefferson County Educator of the Year.


Dr. Meenakshi Singh, associate professor of physics at Colorado School of Mines, has won a Fulbright-Nehru Professional and Academic Excellence Award to conduct quantum physics research at one of the top research institutes in India. Read more >>


5 Mines professors named University Distinguished Professors, two from Physics

University Distinguished Professor
Dr. Jeff Squier, Professor of Physics
University Distinguished Teaching Professor
Dr. Kristine Callan, Teaching Professor of Physics

Moon, Earth, Webb Telescope images, NASA