Physics Research at NIP

The Institute is the leading center of scientific resarch in physics and applied physics in the Philippines. The NIP research groups are autonomous clusters within the institute that help realize our objective to become one of the best school of physics in this region of the Pacific. Utilizing a comprehensive training via an apprenticeship scheme, thesis work (required for undergraduate and graduate degree) is carried out under the supervision of professors and staff. Each laboratory is managed by a program coordinator who is chosen by the NIP Executive Council after the recommendation of the NIP Director.

Condensed Matter Physics

Program Coordinator: Arnel A. Salvador, Ph.D.

The Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory is interested in materials growth (III-V semiconductors and quantum structures, oxide semiconductors, high purity metal alloys, high Tc superconductors, and magnetic materials) and device fabrication (micro-electromechanical system (MEMS), vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), field effect transistor (FET), piezoelectric micro machined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) and photoconductive antenna (PCA)). The CMPL has ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) facilities for thin film deposition such as molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), e-beam deposition, thermal evaporator, and magnetron sputtering. We also perform high-temperature processing including annealing, sintering, and alloying. We are also capable of characterizing the quality of grown materials using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and morphology using an atomic force microscope (AFM), Mossbauer spectroscopy, and X-ray absorption and emission spectroscopy. The optical properties are measured using photoluminescence, ellipsometry, and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, electrical properties are tested with current-voltage, Hall, resistivity, deep-level transient spectroscopy, and Magnetic susceptibility. For device fabrication, the CMPL is equipped with a probe station, spin coater, metallization, mask aligner, and wire bonder. Our experimental research activities are complemented by numerical studies such as ab initio calculations, Finite Difference Time-Domain (FDTD), Density Functional Theory (DFT), and COMSOL.

Research Areas: material synthesis, physical properties, and applications of high-temperature superconductors; UV, X-ray, and gamma-ray studies of defect structures, synthesis and optical characterization of ZnO; high-pressure studies of magnetic materials, electronic and optical properties of III-V semiconductors in bulk, quantum wells, and dots; and optoelectronic devices; nanomaterials and solar cells; ultrafast and terahertz spectroscopy; graphene; sun simulator; COMSOL, DFT.

https://nip.upd.edu.ph/app/uploads/2024/05/CMPL-Magazine_compressed.pdf

Gravity, Astronomy, Nuclear and Particle Physics

Program Coordinator: Reinabelle C. Reyes, Ph.D.

The Gravity, Astronomy, Nuclear and Particle Physics Group (GANAP) is the only research group in the Philippines dedicated to exploring these specialized fields. Our focus is deeply rooted in fundamental theory, while harnessing the power of data analysis and machine learning techniques to gain insights into the mysteries of the natural world and to unearth novel phenomena. Within our group, aspiring researchers and students receive comprehensive training in a diverse array of analytical and computational tools, empowering them to contribute significantly to our fields of study. Members of GANAP belong to the ATLAS Collaboration in CERN and the Asian Nuclear Physics Association.

Research Areas: gravitational physics; relativistic astrophysics: black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmology; nonlinear dynamics and chaos; applications of geometry in physics; hadron physics; nuclear structure; application of deep learning in nuclear and hadron physics; amplitude analysis; high energy physics; particle physics phenomenology; collider physics; physics beyond the Standard Model; data-driven astrophysics and cosmology; applications of machine learning in astrophysics; applications of white noise analysis in astrophysics. 

Instrumentation Physics

Program Coordinator: Caesar A. Saloma, Ph.D.

The Instrumentation Physics Laboratory Group (IPL) applies established physical principles and theories to deeply explore novel physical phenomena through the development of advanced measurement techniques that improve the accuracy, precision, and efficiency of signal sampling and data gathering, information processing, and signal recovery. Cutting-edge scientific research and development is not possible without accurate and precise measurement techniques.  IPL researchers are developing novel optical and computational hybrid techniques in photonic fabrication, multidimensional analysis and manipulation of micro-structures and complex adaptive system analysis. IPL provides its students with an enabling and nurturing environment that fosters independent thinking and promotes meaningful research collaboration across disciplines.

Research Areas: optical microscopy; optical trapping and fabrication; complex adaptive systems; signal processing, data analytics; modeling dynamical systems; noise-aided image and time-series analysis; granular materials dynamics; image and video analysis.

Visit for more info: https://nip.upd.edu.ph/app/uploads/2024/05/CMPL-Magazine_compressed.pdf

Photonics Research

Program Coordinator: Myles Allen Zosa, Ph.D.

The Photonics Research Group was established by the NIP to serve as the Philippine national center for research, development and advanced manpower training in the area of lasers and laser applications. It was tasked to spearhead the development of high-impact laser physics research capabilities in the country.

Research Areas: Laser systems development: pulsed laser deposition, diagnostics and spectroscopy of laser produced plasma; multi-color and multi-photon interactions; Coherent metrology for nondestructive testing of technical and biological samples: digital shearography and holography, speckle phase retrieval, 3D object recognition and phase microscopy.

Structure and Dynamics

Program Coordinator: Francis Norman Paraan, Ph.D.

The research thrust of the Structure and Dynamics Group (SanD) is to understand through theoretical and computational methods the physics principles of microscopic and macroscopic systems as dictated by each system’s underlying structure and the processes with which it undergoes. In the area of condensed matter physics, SanD researchers investigate (i) the effect of quantum confinement in the presence of applied fields such as those in heterostructures, (ii) the phenomena in the quantum Hall regime, and (iii) systems with spin interactions. In the area of computational physics, SanD members study (i) percolation in different geometries, (ii) the dynamics of molecular formation, (iii) modeling of population growth that conform to the mutation-accumulation theory of aging, and (iv) the development of efficient search models through quantum computing.

Theoretical Physics Group

Program Coordinator: Jayson Cosme, Ph.D.

The NIP Fields and Particles Group conducts research on quantum field and gauge theories; quantum field theoretical methods in high-Tc superconductivity; perturbation formalism; general relativity and applications in astrophysics; special methods in non-equilibrium statistical physics and applications to non-linear phenomena in hydrodynamics and plasma physics. The Group’s research interest also includes high energy particle phenomenology and foundations of non-relativistic quantum mechanics.