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Department of
Physics and Astronomy

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Astronomy

Atomic Molecular, Optical, and Plasma Physics

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Nuclear Physics

From the Field
Nuclear Reactions Make Stars Explode

Are you interested in learning what makes massive stars explode? Ask Maruf Abubakar, a graduate student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Departmental News

3MT 2024 People’s Choice Award Winner- Achini Mala Sri Ovitigala, Ph.D. Student, Physics and Astronomy

CONGRATULATIONS Achini Mala Sri Ovitigala, Ph.D. Student, Physics and Astronomy Winner of the 3MT Three Minute Thesis 2024 People’s Choice Award. She is the first student in the department of Physics and Astronomy to win this award.

November 14, 2025

Bypassing the signature waiting point in rp-process in X-ray bursts

Type-I X-ray bursts on the surface of accreting neutron stars are powered by sequence of nuclear reactions called rapid proton capture (rp) process. 64Ge waiting point is defining feature of this nuclear burning. New study by researchers from Air Force Institute of Technology, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Dr. Jaspreet Randhawa from Mississippi State University shows that this signature waiting point can be bypassed and calls for new nuclear physics experiments to further elucidate the nuclear burning close to 64Ge waiting point. These results were published in the prestigious journal ‘The Astrophysical Journal’.

June 16, 2025

Physics Junior Anthony Mattina

June 3, 2025

Officer Commissioning

Todd Fayard, a recent graduate in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USAF. Congratulations, Todd!

June 2, 2025

Department of Physics and Astronomy