Research Themes

Explore the immense breadth of physics at Cambridge

Research at the Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics is organised into ten core themes.

These fields encompass a variety of research groups, each with its own scientific aims and ambitions but united by two common goals:

  • A relentless search for a fundamental understanding of the Universe and the laws which govern it
  • To seek new ways to apply the laws of nature.

Click on each of the themes to learn more about our researchers and their work.

Themes

Astrophysics

Study the unexplored Universe, from its very first moments to the late evolution of stars, galaxies and exoplanets.

Physics of Life

Precision health, physical biology, the physics of medicine. Answer some of the most exciting questions in science through the study of living systems.

Energy Materials

Help reshape the world energy economy and meet the huge scientific challenge of reaching a sustainable, zero-carbon future.

Physics of Soft Matter and NanoSystems

Explore how atoms, molecules, polymers and semiconductors can be combined to modify the behaviour of light, magnetism and thermal properties.

High Energy Physics

Join groups involved in major experiments at CERN and Fermilab, and in R&D projects for possible future Linear Colliders.

Quantum Information and Control

Delve into the fundamental physics of quantum systems, unlocking their potential to transform technology.

Applied Quantum Physics and Devices

The design, development and testing of devices and systems that rely on the creation, control and manipulation of quantum states to deliver non-classical system performance.

Theory of Condensed Matter

Deploy core theoretical tools to make scientific advances across a range of complex physical systems.

Coming Soon - Fundamental Physics of Quantum Matter

The emergence of collective, macroscopically observable behaviour from interacting quantum systems yields surprising phenomena and new insights.

Coming soon - Synthetic Quantum Systems

Large-scale quantum systems with tailored and tunable properties provide platforms for exploring emerging many-body quantum physics.