Physics

Mathematical & Computational Physics

Theoretical physics is a basis of modern quantitative science, on which so much else rests. It is perhaps the highest-impact, lowest-cost area of basic research. Solar cells, computers, wireless technologies, diagnostic imaging – they are all rooted in inventions made by theoretical physicists. Superconductors, Atomic structure, properties of light, and nuclear energy are all topics discovered by experimental physicists. They design experiments to test theories about the communications of matter and energy in specific ways using cultured equipment. Applications of their research are important in medicine, manufacturing, alternative energy technologies and in the military. Experimental physicists are employed by medical research companies, universities and the federal government. Computational physics is a study and implementation of numerical analysis for solving the problems in physics for which a quantitative theory already exists. Computational physics can be specified as the study and the implementation of the numerical analysis for solving problems in physics for which there is the existence of quantitative theory.