Research

Impactful research is central to the culture of our Physics department with many of our staff actively engaged in both theoretical and applied research, industry projects, and working closely not only with colleagues across the University's science and engineering departments, but with collaborators across the globe.

Research strengths

Loughborough's Department of Physics is proud of its tradition of leading research in condensed matter physics.

This is one of the richest areas of physics. Understanding the effects discovered in condensed matter systems demands powerful theoretical tools, and predictions of the most exotic theories find here their experimental realisations. The Department has a balanced and expanding research programme, with strong, interconnected theoretical and experimental effort in some of the most challenging directions of condensed matter physics, such as novel materials and devices for electronics and computing;quantum engineering;spintronics and low-dimensional physics.

This programme has strong interdisciplinary components such as neuromorphic computing, medical imaging and energy harvesting.The staff and students benefit from the unique network of world leading scholars visiting department and hosting us at the top research centres worldwide.

Our research includes

Revolutionising brain imaging using superior superconducting technology

We have developed and patented a superior new MEG-imaging technology based on SQUIDs (Superconducting-QUantum-Interference-Devices).

Combatting noise pollution with noise control technology

The development of acoustic metamaterials at Loughborough University has led to game changing technology in noise control.

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Our research facilities

The Department of Physics has benefited from a £4.2m building refurbishment and lab renovations programme for the Physics, Chemistry and Engineering departments supported by the University. The lab renovation provided the establishment of a new clean room, and co-location with the Department of Chemistry. The result of this renovation is the development of thin film and photolithography facilities that were not previously available.

In addition, technical support for X-ray diffraction and reflectivity experiments, and for sample preparation (3D printing, furnaces) is shared with the Chemistry department, thus optimising the usage of the new facilities.

The School investment over the last 5 years has resulted in the upgrades tospecialised electronics for high-precision low-noise measurements; the development of a Magneto Optic Kerr Effect Magnetometer (MOKE); Ferromagnetic Resonance (FMR) with a vector network analyser; an atomic force microscope (AFM); Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) systems.

Several research grants have also aided the establishment of characterisation facilities, including the purchase of a 9 Tesla cryogen-free magnetometer with resistivity, thermal transport, and He-3 optionsfor ultra-low temperature measurements. Currently, the Physics building houses a cleanroom suite (ISO class 6/FED equivalent 1000, 22.5 m2) for micro fabrication of devices, PLD and PVD labs, Surface Nanoscience Laboratory, Laboratories of Low temperature and Magnetisation, High-Pressure Extreme Conditions Lab, Electronics and Mechanical Workshops.

The research of the Department of Physics is supported by the access to the state-of-the-art facilities of Loughborough's Material Characterisation Centre (LMCC), which contains over £6m of equipment and contributes to research activities.

Our research and impact activities are advanced by the support from the existing LoughboroughHigh Performance Computing (HPC) service, which comprises the Hydra cluster (a 2460-core 64-bit Intel Xeon cluster supplied by Bull). It is funded from the University's research income and is reserved for research use. In addition, our research is supported by the access to Loughborough-led Tier-2 High Performance Computingcentre “HPC Midlands+” with a focus on Engineering and Physical Sciences, supported by a £3.2 million grant from EPSRC.