Atomic and Molecular Physics

Education objectives

Physics is a key area of expertise. Along with mathematics, physics is the foundation of all other scientific and technological areas. Physics inherited from ancient philosophy the function to demand the truth, the laws and the overarching concepts that allow us to explain the matter, the universe and even life. In this sense, physics is the scientific area that is at the knowledge frontier.

Its importance for the development has been recognized by the United Nations, which declared 2005 the International Year of Physics.

Fulfilling the objectives of the 3rd cycle to ensure training leading to conceptual or instrumental innovation capabilities, critical analysis and evaluation, promotion of technological progress, skills that result from specialization and systematic understanding of a scientific-technological sub-area and the acquisition of skills and methods of research, this doctoral program aims at training specialists with great capacity for innovation and technological progress to promote the following sub-areas of physics:

1. Surfaces and Interfaces Physics (thin films, catalysis, interface processes at the molecular level, surface spectroscopies)
2. Studies in Advanced Materials (nano-structures, insulators, broadband semi-conductor metal oxides, magnetic materials and super-conductors, liquid crystals)
3. Atomic and Molecular Interactions (Proceedings in environmental and biological molecules, interaction of molecular beams, relativistic self-consistent studies of atoms and molecules)
4. Nuclear Reactions (nuclear reactions relevant to Nuclear Astrophysics)
5. Optical (Multi photoionization, nonlinear optics)
6. Development of materials (written and lab) for Basic and Secondary Education, including teacher training.

These sub-areas, covered topics correspond to areas of high importance (with big international repercussions), not only in fundamental terms, but also in terms of technological application potential.

Career opportunities

Ensure specialists training with strong capabilities to promote innovation and technological progress in the area of physics. This doctoral program gives career opportunities at university teaching careers and / or research, as well as top places in technical development companies, namely in the above mentioned sub-areas (indicated in the objectives). Among the capabilities with which candidates are provided these include critical thinking, conceptual autonomy and entrepreneurship for the creation of new businesses.