The success of the Weinberg-Salam model of electroweak interactions, culminating in the recent discovery of the W+- and Z, has led to efforts to find a unified theory including quantum chromodynamics and perhaps general relativity as well. Theoretical particle physics has advanced its frontiers enormously in recent years. Our work inevitably centers around large particle accelerator centers such as Fermilab in Batavia IL and CERN in Switzerland. We do not quite understand why the universe came to be dominated by matter (the Standard Model treats matter and antimatter nearly equally).ДЄnswering these questions requires probing matter at very small distances. We have no idea why there are so many quarks and leptons (while the entire stable universe is built from the two lightest quarks, and lightest charged lepton - the electron). Quantites like mass and charge are assigned empirically. There are many questions that the Standard Model leaves unanswered, or partially answered. The singular achievement of High Energy Physics, The Standard Model explains all our observations so far in a simple and straighforward way, much as Mendeleev's Periodic Table did in the 19th century. Our current understanding is that everything in the universe is built up from fundamental particles called quarks and leptons, which interact via the exchange of field particles such as the photon (responsible for the electromagnetic force), the Weak Bosons, W and Z (the weak nuclear force), and the gluon (the strong nuclear force). High Energy Physics seeks to answer questions about the smallest units of matter. In addition, several members of the group have strong connections with such national facilities as Brookhaven National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory and make use of X-ray and neutron scattering facilities at these laboratories. Many active collaborations with members of related departments (especially Chemistry and Engineering departments) are ongoing. Our CMX and LSM laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art instruments that give access to ultra-low temperatures, ultra-high vacuum, high magnetic fields, and atomic-resolution imaging. Several of the condensed matter group are also members of the Laboratory for Surface Modification and conduct research at the atomic level in the physics and chemistry of surfaces, interfaces, and thin films, including electronic and structural properties, dynamical processes, and surface catalysis.

Specifically, the group is actively working on: the synthesis of novel materials, the dynamics of vortex matter, quantum transport and interactions in mesoscopic conductors, the metal-insulator transition and correlated-electron effects, low dimensional quantum magnets, quantum fluids and solids, two-dimensional electron systems, sonoluminescence, colossal magneto-resistance, ferroelectricity, magnetism, and forefront x-ray characterization studies.

The physics department is named after Bernard Serin, who in 1950 discovered the isotope effect in superconductors.Д¬ontinuing this tradition, the condensed matter experimental (CMX) group is pursuing a vigorous research program on topics at the forefront of modern condensed matter physics. Experimental research on condensed matter physics at Rutgers has a long and distinguished history.

Rutgers periodic table chemistry