Research Centres
Astrophysics Research Centre
Research Strengths
Recent research highlights; finding dozens of extra-solar planets, discovering giant twisting waves in the sun, and studying an asteroid before it entered the Earth's atmosphere.
We have also identified progenitor stars of supernovae before they exploded, and discovered some of the most luminous explosions in the universe.
Special Features
ARC is a leading partner in facilities to discovery exoplanets and in the Pan-STARRS programme to identify moving and explosive phenomena.
ARC built and runs a state-of-the-art, high-speed solar imager, called ROSA. We lead the development of a first light camera for the world’s largest solar telescope under construction in Hawaii.
Research in Astrophysics
The major research themes focus on the dynamic universe. We search for distant supernovae and their progenitor stars to understand what drives these explosions.
We study the asteroid and comet population in the solar system and have built instruments to take high-frequency observations of the solar surface.The discovery of planets orbiting other stars in our galaxy is one of the most active new areas in astronomy.
Atomistic Simulation Centre
Research in Atomistic Simulation
We develop theory and computational methods for atomic scale modelling and simulation of hard and soft condensed matter systems of experimental and practical interest.
We possess a wide range of mutually complementary theoretical and computational expertise: large-scale classical molecular dynamics; statistical mechanics; quantum Monte-Carlo; classical and quantum nuclear dynamics; quantum transport. Moreover, we maintain core competences in high performance and parallel computing.
Centre for Nanostructured Media
Research in Nanostructured Media
Our research is targeted at two complementary themes; nanoscale functional materials and devices and nanophotonics and plasmonics.
Being able to combine our established strengths in both themes places us in a unique position in UK and beyond. Both these themes encompass and cover our expertise in underlying science and materials for next generation data storage and information processing technologies.
Centre for Plasma Physics
Research in Plasma Physics
Our research focus is on the physics of plasmas created by high-intensity laser irradiation of matter or by electrical discharges.
Several of our projects pursue the development of advanced radiation sources with unique properties and their applications, often in interdisciplinary contexts. Our work is supported by significant funding from the UK Research Councils, as well as from other national and international sources. We host state-of-the-art research facilities, but we are also frequent users of major national and international large-scale installations.
Mathematical Sciences Research Centre (MSRC)
Mathematical Sciences Research Centre
The MSRC is part of the School of Mathematics and Physics of Queen’s University Belfast.
It was founded in 2016 by merging the Centre for Statistical Science and Operational Research (CenSSOR) and the Pure Mathematics Research Centre (PMRC) into a single research unit, and has since then expanded into various directions of applied mathematics.
Centre for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Research in Theoretical Atomic,Molecular and Optical
The main areas of activity encompass atomic collisions and structure; strong field processes; quantum information, computing and optics; ultra-cold atoms and Bose-Einstein condensation.
A continuing strong theme is the development of major computer codes that exploit massively parallel supercomputers. Many of the codes originated by CTAMOP are used worldwide.
