PhD in Physics- High Energy Nuclear Experimental Physics in Bethlehem United States | Lehigh University

Ongoing investigations explore relativistic heavy-ion collisions through the Solenoidal Tracker at RHIC (STAR) and sPHENIX experiments conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory. This research domain examines matter subjected to intense temperature, density, and pressure conditions, where quarks and gluons - the fundamental constituents of nuclear matter - become liberated from hadronic confinement. This unbound state, known as quark-gluon plasma (QGP), employs high-energy probes like particle jets and heavy flavor quarks to analyze energy dissipation patterns within this exotic medium. The doctoral curriculum encompasses foundational graduate-level coursework establishing essential physics fundamentals, specialized classes aligned with each student's research focus, and dissertation research. Candidates transferring with prior graduate coursework may incorporate relevant completed classes into their candidacy proposal, which outlines both academic preparation and dissertation research plans. Lehigh University's Physics Department provides undergraduate astronomy (B.A.) and astrophysics (B.S.) programs, along with B.A., B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in physics, supplemented by summer undergraduate research opportunities. Research specializations span astronomy/astrophysics, atomic/molecular/optical physics, biophysics, computational physics, condensed matter physics, general relativity/cosmology/string theory, high-energy/accelerator physics, nanoscience, nonlinear optics/photonics, plasma physics, soft condensed matter/complex fluids, and statistical physics.