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Unsurpassed in many areas

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The Cornell University Department of Physics, known for the versatility of its program, the breadth of its training, and Nobel Prize-winning work, is unsurpassed in many areas. The presence on campus of a particle accelerator, one of just a few of its magnitude anywhere in the world, contributes to Cornell’s reputation in particle and accelerator physics. The department has more than 40 active professors,  approximately 180 graduate students and 65 undergraduate majors, and offers a full range of university-level work in physics, from general education courses for nonscientists to doctoral-level independent research.

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The Bethe Way: Department of Physics Magazine

The Bethe Way is the department's yearly magazine. In it, we share exciting highlights of  faculty hires, research breakthroughs, staff changes, teaching reform, faculty awards, and alumni connections.

Click here to read a recent issue.

Physics News

The telescope, a large white structure with the logo on the front, with construction boxes around it and mountain tops and a plateau in the distance.

Major new telescope on Chilean summit opens window on universe

Cornell University celebrates April 9 inauguration of Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope in Chile. President Michael Kotlikoff marked milestone enabling wide-field submillimeter surveys to study dark energy, early universe conditions, and galaxy evolution.

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2029 reaccreditation process begins with self-study

The first phase of Cornell University’s upcoming reaccreditation process with Middle States Commission on Higher Education is underway, with the naming of a steering committee that includes several College of Arts and Sciences faculty members and an invitation to the community to provide input.

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Admitted Class of 2030 seeks real-world impact

Cornell admits the Class of 2030 emphasizing real-world impact, enrolling 5,776 students from 102 countries.
At Cornell University, the diverse cohort reflects the land-grant mission and applied learning goals across multiple colleges.

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Nobel Laureate in physics to speak at Cornell April 8

Nobel Laureate physicist John M. Martinis will headline a quantum mechanics lecture April 8 at Cornell University. The talk launches the Cornell Undergraduate Research Board’s Frontiers of Discovery Lecture Series.

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Education researcher Dr. Susan Singer to speak on active learning, DBER field

Education researcher Dr. Susan Singer will discuss the future of active learning and discipline-based education research on April 7 at Cornell University’s Fiske Room, Uris Library. Hosted by the Center for Teaching Innovation, the event highlights her national leadership in STEM education reform and evidence-based undergraduate teaching innovations.

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Cornell scientists drive breakthrough astronomy

Since the early days of modern cosmic exploration, Cornell scientists have led the way, from guiding rovers through the red dust of Mars to searching for other life in the universe; and from modeling exotic stars to detecting the faint ripples of gravitational waves.

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Peter Wittich

"On my first day after joining a research group in graduate school a professor said, I hear you’re interested in instrumentation.’ I didn’t know what that was, but I thought I’d better say yes. When people think about physics, they think about a guy with a pencil and paper, but physics is an experimental science.”

- Peter Wittich,  Professor and Director, Laboratory of Elementary Particle Physics

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