Physics

So what is string theory? For that matter, what the heck are elementary particles? If this all sounds totally confusing, try this section first. Includes pages on mathematics, cosmology, black holes, gravity, theoretical physics, quantum mechanics, particle physics, and relativity.

The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics has been in operation since 1979, on the Santa Barbara campus of the University of California. It is funded by the National Science Foundation and the University of California. The general purpose of the Institute is to contribute to the progress of theoretical physics, especially in areas overlapping the traditional subfields, in ways which are not easily realized in existing institutions.

The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) is one of more than 80 research institutes of the Max Planck Society. The Institute was established to pursue research in gravitational physics, especially general relativity and quantum gravity. General relativity is the theory of gravity devised by Albert Einstein (picture: 1929 by Lotte Jacobi); its many successful predictions concerning black holes, gravitational waves, gravitational lensing, and the Big Bang have made it a standard tool of astronomers in their attempts to describe the observed universe. Much work in theoretical physics today is directed at generalizing this theory to include the quantum effects that are known to be necessary to describe elementary particles, and which are believed to be necessary as well to describe the inside of a black hole and the details of the Big Bang. The aim is to develop a quantum theory of gravity that goes beyond general relativity and explains the relationship between gravity and the other forces of physics, such as electromagnetism and the nuclear force.

Everything you could ever want to know about Stephen Hawking . . . Well, almost! If you have ever wanted to know about the man who wrote the all-time best seller 'A Brief History of Time', and more recently the book that is still topping charts all over the world 'The Universe in a Nutshell' then this is an excellent place to start. These pages have been written so that you can learn more about not only Stephen, but also his work. Would you like to email Professor Hawking? See 'contact information' in the 'Information' section.

Sandia has served for more than 50 years as one of the major national defense R&D labs, starting in 1945 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as part of the Manhattan Project, which built the first nuclear weapons. AT&T began managing Sandia in 1949 after President Harry Truman offered the company "an opportunity to render an exceptional service in the national interest." In 1993, Lockheed Martin (then Martin Marietta) assumed
management of the Labs. Today Sandia has two primary facilities, one in Albuquerque and one in Livermore, California. Sandia employs about 7,450 people and manage about $1.4 billion of work per year. Sandia is funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Energy to design all of the non-nuclear components of the nation's nuclear weapons. Sandia also works closely with many U.S. government and industry groups to make contributions to preserve the nation's security. We constantly explore new opportunities to team with government, industry, and university partners in this mission. Sandia pursues "science and engineering with the mission in mind" finding solutions to the nation's most challenging problems.

For nearly a decade, the Laboratory, in partnership with its sister Defense Programs laboratories and the Department of Energy (DOE)/National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), has maintained the enduring nuclear stockpile without nuclear testing. National science-based Stockpile Stewardship is the program through which the safety, reliability, and performance of the United States nuclear stockpile is assured. Through Stockpile Stewardship and other programs, LANL develops and applies the best science and technology to meet national security requirements by creating and adapting capabilities to address critical mission needs.

The INEEL is a multiprogram national laboratory delivering science and engineering solutions to the world's environmental, energy, and security challenges. The mission of the INEEL is to: Deliver science-based, engineered solutions to the challenges of DOE's missions areas, other federal agencies, and industrial clients; Complete environmental cleanup responsibly and cost-effectively using innovative science and engineering capabilities; Provide leadership and support to optimize the value of EM investments and strategic partnerships throughout the DOE complex; Enhance scientific and technical talent, facilities, and equipment to best serve national and regional interests.

Fusion energy and plasma physics research is the primary mission of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). A collaborative national center for fusion energy and plasma physics research, PPPL is managed by Princeton University for the U.S. Department of Energy. An associate mission for PPPL is to provide the highest quality of education in fusion energy, plasma physics, and related technologies.

At PNNL, we deliver breakthrough science and technology to meet key national needs. We also apply our capabilities to meet selected environmental, energy, health and national security objectives, strengthen the economy, and support the education of future scientists and engineers. PNNL is managed by DOE's Office of Science, but we perform work for many DOE offices as well as other government agencies. PNNL's areas of research, from fundamental science to eventual commercial application, fall into seven main areas: Computing and Information Technology, Energy, Environment, Fundamental Science, Health and Safety, National Security, and Nuclear Technology.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory advances the understanding of the fundamental nature of matter and energy by providing leadership and resources for qualified researchers to conduct basic research at the frontiers of high energy physics and related disciplines. ermilab, originally named the National Accelerator Laboratory, was commissioned by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, under a bill signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on November 21, 1967. Founding Director Robert R. Wilson committed the laboratory to firm principles of scientific excellence, esthetic beauty, stewardship of the land, fiscal responsibility and equality of opportunity. Universities Research Association built the laboratory, and has operated the facility under those principles since its founding. On May 11, 1974, the laboratory was renamed in honor of 1938 Nobel Prize winner Enrico Fermi, one of the preeminent physicists of the atomic age.

NETL's primary mission is to ensure that U.S. fossil energy resources can meet increasing demand for affordable energy without compromising the quality of life for future generations of Americans. Within this context, NETL historically focused on the development of advanced technologies related to coal and natural gas. With the recent addition of the National Petroleum Technology Office to the laboratory, responsibilities now cover the breadth of fossil energy resourcescoal, natural gas, and oil. In addition to NETL's work in fossil energy, the laboratory has in recent years broadened its mission to include support to the development and deployment of environmental technologies that lower the cost and reduce the risk of cleaning up the Department of Energy's weapons complex.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leader in the U.S. Department of Energy's effort to secure an energy future for the nation that is environmentally and economically sustainable. NREL develops renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices, advances related science and engineering, and transfers knowledge and innovations to address the nation's energy and environmental goals. Established in 1974, NREL began operating in 1977 as the Solar Energy Research Institute. It was designated a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in September 1991 and its name changed to NREL.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) conducts unclassified research across a wide range of scientific disciplines with key efforts in fundamental studies of the universe; quantitative biology; nanoscience; new energy systems and environmental solutions; and the use of integrated computing as a tool for discovery. It is organized into 17 scientific divisions and hosts four DOE national user facilities. The Lab was founded in 1931 by Ernest Orlando Lawrence, winner of the 1939 Nobel Prize in physics for his invention of the cyclotron, a circular particle accelerator that opened the door to high-energy physics. It was Lawrences belief that scientific research is best done through teams of individuals with different fields of expertise, working together. His teamwork concept is a Berkeley Lab legacy that has yielded rich dividends in basic knowledge and applied technology, and a profusion of awards, including nine Nobel Prizes -- five in physics and four in chemistry.

One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOEs Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab) is funded by the Office of Science for the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) with strong support from the City of Newport News, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States Congress. As a user facility for scientists worldwide, its primary mission is to conduct basic research of the atoms nucleus at the quark level. With industry and university partners, it has a derivative mission as well: applied research for using the Free-Electron Lasers based on technology the laboratory developed to conduct its physics experiments. As a center for both basic and applied research, Jefferson Lab also reaches out to help educate the next generation in science and technology. Jefferson Lab is managed for the DoE by the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) Inc., a consortium of universities in the Southeast.

The mission of the Collider-Accelerator Department is to develop, improve and operate the suite of particle / heavy ion accelerators used to carry out the program of accelerator-based experiments at BNL; to support the experimental program including design, construction and operation of the beam transports to the experiments plus support of detector and research needs of the experiments; to design and construct new accelerator facilities in support of the BNL and national missions. The C-A Department supports an international user community of over 1500 scientists. The department performs all these functions in an environmentally responsible and safe manner under a rigorous conduct of operations approach.

The Office of Nuclear Physics supports a community of scientists who seek to understand the fundamental forces and particles of nature as manifested in nuclear matter.

SLAC is one of the world s leading research laboratories. Established in 1962, it is located at Stanford University in Menlo Park, CA. Our mission is to design, construct and operate state-of-the-art electron accelerators and related experimental facilities for use in high-energy physics and synchrotron radiation research.

The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, providing more than 40 percent of total funding for this vital area of national importance. It oversees and is the principal federal funding agency of the Nations research programs in high-energy physics, nuclear physics, and fusion energy sciences. The Office of Science manages fundamental research programs in basic energy sciences, biological and environmental sciences, and computational science. In addition, the Office of Science is the Federal Governments largest single funder of materials and chemical sciences, and it supports unique and vital parts of U.S. research in climate change, geophysics, genomics, life sciences, and science education. The Office of Science manages this research portfolio through five interdisciplinary program offices: Advanced Scientific Computing Research, Basic Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, Fusion Energy Sciences, and High Energy Physics and Nuclear Physics. In addition, the Office of Science sponsors a range of science education initiatives through its Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists program. The Office of Science also manages 10 world-class laboratories, which often are called the crown jewels of our national research infrastructure. The national laboratory system, created over a half-century ago, is the most comprehensive research system of its kind in the world. Five are multi-program facilities: Argonne National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is a premier research and development institution for science and technology applied to national security. We are responsible for ensuring that the nations nuclear weapons remain safe, secure, and reliable. LLNL also applies its expertise to prevent the spread and use of weapons of mass destruction and strengthen homeland security. Our national security mission requires special multidisciplinary capabilities that are also used to pursue programs in advanced defense technologies, energy, environment, biosciences, and basic science to meet important national needs. These activities enhance the competencies needed for our defining national security mission. The Laboratory serves as a resource to the U.S. government and is a partner with industry and academia. Safe, secure, and efficient operations and scientific and technical excellence in our programs are necessary to sustain public trust in the Laboratory.