Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Physics - Astrophysics and Plasma Physics

The Applied Physics program combines a core physics curriculum with research and study in areas that also includes the application of physics to the broader scientific and engineering communities. Students in applied physics may pursue research in any one of several broad areas, including nanoscience, advanced materials, condensed matter physics, renewable energy, quantum information and photonics, biological physics, astrophysics and plasma physics. The Ph.D. program in the graduate field of Applied Physics (AP) is a flexible, research-oriented doctoral program tailored to individual interests. AP combines a core physics curriculum with research and study usually in one of the areas discussed above. Graduate students can engage in a wide range of cross-disciplinary research activities, bringing their expertise as an applied physicist to bear, often in a collaborative environment. Instead of a qualifying exam, students are expected take classes in a common core of physics subjects, being quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, statistical mechanics, and advanced laboratory techniques.

The Ph.D. program in the graduate field of Applied Physics is a research-oriented doctoral program tailored to individual interests. The program combines a core physics curriculum with research and study in one of several areas that deal either with the application of physics to a technical discipline or with the interface between physics and another area of science. Students who have majored in physics, in another physical science (for example, chemistry), or in an engineering field are eligible for the program.

Cornell's research programs in planetary astronomy, infrared astronomy, theoretical astrophysics, and radio astronomy are internationally recognized. Plasma physics is the science of electrically conducting fluids and high-temperature ionized gases. While the best-known research impetus is controlled fusion as a potential source of electric power, plasma physics also underlies many solar, astrophysical, and ionospheric phenomena as well as industrial applications of plasmas.

Applicants should have undergraduate preparation in physics or another physical science or in an engineering field with a strong emphasis on mathematics and modern physics. The GRE general and subject exams are not used in our evaluation process and should not be submitted.
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Well-qualified individuals with master's degrees in these areas are also invited to apply. Competition for admission to Cornell's Applied Physics program is strong, and class size is limited by the number of students for which research support is expected to be available in subsequent years. Students are admitted on the basis of academic merit and ability to pursue an advanced degree program as demonstrated by scholastic record, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and a statement of purpose. Students admitted to the program normally begin in the fall term.
Admission to the Ph.D. program is generally granted only on a full-time basis for pursuit of a doctoral degree. Students seeking a Master's level degree may wish to consider the one-year Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) Degree Program in Engineering Physics, or the two-year Master of Science (M.S.) Degree Program, both of which are offered by the School of Applied and Engineering Physics.
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