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Professor Justin Wark at Hibef beamline (XFEL)

Inauguration of new beamline at European XFEL

In a milestone for high energy density physics, a new beamline at the European X-Ray Laser (XFEL), was officially opened yesterday, 31 August 2021.

1 September 2021

Graphic of galaxy outflow

Galaxies pump out contaminated exhausts

Researchers led by Dr Alex Cameron from the University of Oxford and Professor Deanne Fisher from the ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D) have found evidence to suggest that star-making pollutes the cosmos.

Professor Shivaji Sondhi

Eminent theoretical physicist joins Oxford

The Department of Physics is delighted to confirm the appointment of Professor Shivaji Sondhi to the University’s Wykeham Professorship of Physics, a Leverhulme International Professorship, and the Tencent Chair of Theoretical Physics.

Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Jocelyn Bell Burnell awarded Copley Medal

Jocelyn Bell Burnell has been awarded the world’s oldest scientific prize, the Royal Society’s prestigious Copley Medal.

An image of the new threshold

Laser fusion at the threshold of ignition

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the US has reached the threshold of realising controlled thermonuclear fusion in the laboratory

Professor Lesley Gray

Professor Lesley Gray elected President of RMetS

Currently vice-president, Professor Lesley Gray will take up the presidency of the Royal Meteorological Society for two years from October 2022

Dr Alexandra Ramadan

Meet...Alexandra Ramadan

We work among extraordinary people doing extraordinary things; get to know some of them by reading these quick-fire interviews.

Sarah Hughes

Meet...Sarah Hughes

We work among extraordinary people doing extraordinary things; get to know some of them by reading these quick-fire interviews.

Dr Alexandra Ramadan

Recognition for ED&I work

Dr Alexandra Ramadan has been awarded the Outstanding ED&I Champion – Researcher award by the Maths, Physics and Life Sciences division in their annual Equality, Diversity and Inclusion awards.

Professor Philip Burrows

Professor Philip Burrows elected IoP Member of Council

Professor Philip Burrows has been elected a Member of the Council of the UK Institute of Physics (IoP). Burrows is Professor of Physics at Oxford University and Director of the John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science.

LUX-ZEPLIN surface lab

Leading xenon researchers unite to build next-generation dark matter detector

The XENON/DARWIN and LUX-ZEPLIN collaborations have now joined forces to work together on the design, construction, and operation of a new, single, multi-tonne scale xenon observatory to explore dark matter.

Close-up of the wall of the Beecroft building

Philanthropy, physics and photovoltaics

In June 2021, the Department of Physics received a significant donation from the Binks Trust to further solar energy research over the coming years; we speak to the chair of the Binks Trust, philanthropist Jo Elliot to find out more.