School of Physics
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Physics is crucial to understanding the world around us, the world inside us, and the world beyond us. It challenges our imaginations with concepts like relativity and quantum mechanics, and has provided the foundations for many new technologies that have changed our lives: mobile phones, the internet, and MRIs are only a few examples of the physics-based technological developments that have revolutionized our world. Many physicists work as engineers, bringing with them unique insights and perspectives resulting from their training in physics.
Accredited degree courses on offer in the School of Physics encompass the study of the universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles and include topics ranging from the atmosphere and environment to medical physics. However, the importance of physics isn't limited to the "hard sciences". Increasingly, physicists are turning their talents to diverse fields such as molecular biology, archaeology, medicine, the arts and even the world of finance. In Galway, we have a strong tradition of providing "hands-on" degrees in Physics and our graduates are much in demand - you don't need to take our word for it: click here to meet the graduates!
Teaching in the School of Physics is strongly influenced by programs of advanced research and graduate education. These programs are based on our research clusters: Applied Optics & Laser Applications; Atmospheric and Environmental Physics; and the Centre for Astronomy. Access to the expertise and facilities of these clusters can be made available to industrial partners.
So physics is interesting, relevant, and it can prepare you for great jobs in a wide variety of places. Why not pursue a physics degree with us here in NUI, Galway and let us share our knowledge and enthusiasm with you? You can join this fascinating journey at any point in your career, please explore further by clicking on any of the options above
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Recent Submissions
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Understanding the changes of cone reflectance in adaptive optics flood illumination retinal images over three years
(Optical Society of America, 2016)Although there is increasing interest in the investigation of cone reflectance variability, little is understood about its characteristics over long time scales. Cone detection and its automation is now becoming a fundamental ... -
Irish Machine Vision and Image Processing Conference Proceedings 2016
(Irish Pattern Recognition and Classification Society, 2016)[No abstract available] -
Performance analysis of cone detection algorithms
(Optical Society of America, 2015-04-01)Many algorithms have been proposed to help clinicians evaluate cone density and spacing, as these may be related to the onset of retinal diseases. However, there has been no rigorous comparison of the performance of these ... -
The study of neutron star magnetospheres with LOFT
(2015)The Large Observatory for X-ray Timing, LOFT, is designed to perform fast X-ray timing and spectroscopy with uniquely large throughput (Feroci et al. 2014). LOFT focuses on two fundamental questions of ESA’s Cosmic Vision ... -
In vivo correlation mapping microscopy
(Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), 2016-03)To facilitate regular assessment of the microcirculation in vivo, noninvasive imaging techniques such as nailfold capillaroscopy are required in clinics. Recently, a correlation mapping technique has been applied to optical ... -
A recent change in the optical and gamma ray polarization of the Crab nebula and pulsar
(Oxford journals, 2015-12-31)We report on observations of the polarization of optical and γ-ray photons from the Crab nebula and pulsar system using the Galway Astronomical Stokes Polarimeter (GASP), the Hubble Space Telescope, Advanced Camera for ... -
Unprecedented study of the broadband emission of Mrk 421 during flaring activity in March 2010
(EDP Sciences, 2015-05-27)Context. Because of its proximity, Mrk 421 is one of the best sources on which to study the nature of BL Lac objects. Its proximity allows us to characterize its broadband spectral energy distribution (SED). Aims. The ... -
The 2009 multiwavelength campaign on Mrk 421: variability and correlation studies
(EDP Sciences, 2015-04-17)Aims. We perform an extensive characterization of the broadband emission of Mrk 421, as well as its temporal evolution, during the non-flaring (low) state. The high brightness and nearby location (z = 0.031) of Mrk 421 ... -
FirstNuSTAR observations of MRK 501 within a radio to TeV multi-instrument campaign
(IOP Publishing, 2015-10-10)We report on simultaneous broadband observations of the TeV-emitting blazar Markarian 501 between 2013 April 1 and August 10, including the first detailed characterization of the synchrotron peak with Swift and NuSTAR. During ... -
Multiwavelength study of quiescent states of MRK 421 with unprecedented hard x-ray coverage provided by NuSTAR in 2013
(IOP Publishing, 2016)We present coordinated multiwavelength observations of the bright, nearby BL Lacertae object Mrk 421 taken in 2013 January-March, involving GASP-WEBT, Swift, NuSTAR, Fermi-LAT, MAGIC, VERITAS, and other collaborations and ... -
Multiwavelength observations of Mrk 501 in 2008
(EDP Sciences, 2015-12-17)Context. Blazars are variable sources on various timescales over a broad energy range spanning from radio to very high energy (>100 GeV, hereafter VHE). Mrk 501 is one of the brightest blazars at TeV energies and has been ... -
The Galway astronomical Stokes polarimeter: an all-Stokes optical polarimeter with ultra-high time resolution
(Springer Verlag, 2013-06-28)Many astronomical objects emit polarised light, which can give information both about their source mechanisms, and about (scattering) geometry in their source regions. To date (mostly) only the linearly polarised components ... -
An investigation of the Eigenvalue Calibration Method (ECM) using GASP for non-imaging and imaging detectors
(Springer Verlag, 2016-02)Polarised light from astronomical targets can yield a wealth of information about their source radiation mechanisms, and about the geometry of the scattered light regions. Optical observations, of both the linear and ... -
The most powerful flaring activity from the NLSyl PMN J0948+0022
(Oxford University Press, 2015-01-21)We report on multifrequency observations performed during 2012 December-2013 August of the first narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy detected in gamma-rays, PMN J0948+0022 (z = 0.5846). A y -ray flare was observed by the Large ... -
VERITAS observations of the BL Lac object PG 1553+113
(American Astronomical Society, 2015-01-20)We present results from VERITAS observations of the BL Lac object PG 1553+113 spanning the years 2010, 2011, and 2012. The time-averaged spectrum, measured between 160 and 560 GeV, is well described by a power law with a ... -
Gamma-rays from the quasar PKS 1441+25: story of an escape
(2015-12-20)Outbursts from gamma-ray quasars provide insights on the relativistic jets of active galactic nuclei and constraints on the diffuse radiation fields that fill the universe. The detection of significant emission above 100 ... -
VERITAS detection of gamma-ray flaring activity from the BL LAC object 1ES 1727+502 during bright moonlight observations
(American Astronomical Society, 2015-08-01)During moonlit nights, observations with ground-based Cherenkov telescopes at very high energies (VHEs, E > 100 GeV) are constrained since the photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) in the telescope camera are extremely sensitive ... -
A search for pulsations from Geminga above 100 GeV with VERITAS
(American Astronomical Society, 2015-02-10)We present the results of 71.6 hr of observations of the Geminga pulsar (PSR J0633+1746) with the VERITAS very-high-energy gamma-ray telescope array. Data taken with VERITAS between 2007 November and 2013 February were ... -
Exceptionally bright TEV flares from the binary LS I+61 degrees 303
(IOP Publishing, 2016-01-20)The TeV binary system LS I +61 degrees 303 is known for its regular, non-thermal emission pattern that traces the orbital period of the compact object in its 26.5 day orbit around its B0 Ve star companion. The system ... -
A search for brief optical flashes associated with the SETI target KIC 8462852
(IOP Publishing, 2016-02-18)The F-type star KIC. 8462852 has recently been identified as an exceptional target for search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) observations. We describe an analysis methodology for optical SETI, which we have used ...