Department of Physics

We are one of the UK's top Physics departments and have a reputation for high-quality teaching, driven by outstanding research, performed in an inclusive and welcoming community.

Welcome to the Department of Physics at Durham

The Physics Department is a thriving centre for research and education.

We are proud that our Department closely aligns the teaching and learning experience for its students with the research-intensive values and practices of the University. Research-led teaching is embedded at all levels from first year laboratory reports to our final year MSci flagship individual research projects.

The Department incorporates the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics, is home to the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology and the Institute for Computational Cosmology. The Ogden Centre is also the base for our innovative outreach programme for school children and their teachers.

Find out more about us

2nd in the Guardian University Guide 2024

3rd for Physics and Astronomy in the Complete University Guide 2024

96% of our research outputs are world-leading or internationally excellent (REF 2021)

3rd in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

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Before you arrive Welcome and Induction

News

Single-person meeting pod opening.

A new single-person meeting pod was opened for use in the Ogden Centre West (OCW) building.

The First Space Summer School for Postgraduate Students held at Durham University

In the last decade, the UK space industry has transformed into one of UK’s fastest growing industrial sectors.

Dr Jason Anderson wins prestigious Institute of Physics Technician Award for 2023

A member of Durham Physics technical support staff has been announced as the winner of a prestigious ‘Technician Award’ for 2023 by the Institute of Physics.

Photo of IOP award winning technician Jason Anderson

Durham hosts new £10m supercomputer to investigate the Universe

We’re home to a new £10m supercomputer that will help scientists around the world investigate the mysteries of the Universe.

Photo of Chi Onwurah and various University academics posing with the new supercomputer

Dr Phil Gregory awarded prestigious Royal Society University Research Fellowship and the Institute of Physics Bates Prize 2023

Dr Phil Gregory from the Quantum Light and Matter (QLM) research group has recently been awarded a prestigious Royal Society University Research Fellowship, and is now the recipient of the 2023 Institute of Physics Bates prize for outstanding research by an early career researcher.

Dr Phil Gregory next to an optical bench showing some of the optical components needed to realise a state-of-the-art cold molecule experiment.

Condensed Matter Physics Research Section came together for an Away Day

The whole Condensed Matter Physics research section (CMP) in Physics at Durham came together for an Away Day at Ushaw House for training and development activities to strengthen our research capabilities and support career progression.

Using gravitational waves to hunt for dark matter

We’re part of an international team of cosmologists who’ve discovered that observations of gravitational waves might reveal the true nature of dark matter.

Two black holes move towards each other against a starry backdrop

Celebrating the next generation of North East Physicists

Physics students’ success from across the region has been celebrated at the recent School Physicist of the Year (SPotY) awards.

Student receiving a school's physicist of the year award

Leverhulme Research Grant awarded to work on fundamental properties of organic molecules

The Universities of Durham and York have been awarded a Leverhulme Research Grant to work on fundamental properties of organic molecules. Prof Andy Monkman (Durham University Physics Department) and Dr Paul McGonigal (University of York Chemistry Department) have been working towards understanding how strain in a molecule affects its aromaticity which controls many key properties such as photophysics, reactivity, stability and electrical properties.

Durham scientists reveal nearly two million galaxies, quasars and stars in the distant Universe

Scientists have observed for the first time two million distant galaxies, quasars and stars that will help create the most detailed 3-D map of the Universe ever, which will further advance our understanding of the Universe and of our own galaxy, the Milky Way.

The Rochester Lecture 2023

The annual Rochester Lecture for 2023 took place on Wednesday 31 May, and was this year delivered by Dr Richard Bowman, a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Reader specialising in microscopy and open hardware. The lecture was titled “Smart microscopy for everyone with open source hardware”, concerning both the OpenFlexure project and OpenFlexure Microscope.

Group photo of (from left) Profs. Alan Martin, Martin Ward, guest speaker Dr Richard Bowman, Paula Chadwick, Matthew Jones, Ifan Hughes and Del Atkinson in front of the Ogden Centre West artwork

'Ultramassive' black hole discovered by Durham astronomers

Astronomers say they have found one of the universe's largest black holes to date using a new technique. Scientists at Durham University discovered the "ultramassive" black hole by observing its pull on passing light, called gravitational lensing. Dr James Nightingale who led the study said even he struggled to "comprehend how big this thing is". Their findings have been published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.