Research in the Department is broadly catagorized into three groups

1) SOLID STATE PHYSICS

2) ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS

3) HEALTH AND MEDICAL PHYSICS

SOLID STATE PHYSICS

The research in this branch is carried out in the following fields:

Magnetism, Superconductivity & Colossal Magnetoresistance

The current research activity in this field focuses on the magnetic and electrical properties of nanostructured magnetic materials. A group of teachers are investigating the magnetic properties like magnetization, magnetic anisotropy and magnetostriction of hard and soft magnetic materials in the form of bulk, thin films and ribbons and also nanostructured magnetic materials.

This group also investigates cuprate high Tc superconductors, and colossal magnetoresistance in manganite perovskites. The CMR studies are performed on polycrystalline bulk and thick film samples. . This group has a research collaboration with the IPPS, Uppsala University, Sweden and the Department of Physics, University of Hanoi, Vietnam. A significant number of M.Phil and Ph.D degrees have been awarded in this field which is disseminated through a good number of research publications in different reputed international journals. The group has developed several research equipment by using BUET workshop facilities and also through the technical supports from Uppsala University, Sweden. These equipments are (i) Torque magnetometer, Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), Close cycle Helium cryostat ,1.8 GHz Impedance analyzer.

Polymer Physics

This group is now working with soft condensed matters, especially with polymeric materials. Currently this group is preparing polymer thin films by plasma polymerization technique and characterized them by various methods. Besides, this group is processing and developing noble polymer materials such as polymer blends and composites by extrusion molding, injection molding, hot pressing, etc. methods. The structural, electrical, mechanical, micromechanical, thermal, surface morphological etc. properties of these materials are characterized by various techniques and are correlated. These research programs are undertaken considering the potential applications of the newly emerging properties of the Polymer Blends and Composites. This group has also further intension to develop methods for polymer crystallization. In addition, the polymer research group is also synthesizing and characterizing ceramic materials such as Varistors and high dielectric constant ceramics.

Crystal Growth

A group is engaged in growing some technologically important non-linear optical singe crystals by solution growth technique. This group works on growth kinetics, structural modification of the single crystals by doping rare earth metal impurities. Structural, electrical and optical properties of these grown crystals are studied.

Thin Film

Binary and ternary metal oxide and conducting thin films are prepared by spray pyrolysis deposition (SPD) technique. Deposition unit is fabricated in the laboratory using locally available materials. The structural, optical, electrical, mechanical, thermal, and surface morphology etc. properties of these deposited films are characterized by various techniques.

HEALTH AND MEDICAL PHYSICS

This group has an active collaboration with Radio Physics Department of Gummersbach Hospital, University of Cologne, Essens University, Essens and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German and Atomic Energy Commission, Bangladesh. Research works in this branch include mainly cross-section measurement for neutron induced reaction on cancer treatment planing, radiation dosimetry and environmental radioactivity and radiation protection using high energy photon beam. This group also investigates the quality control of the machines used in diagnosis and treatment of cancer with radiation.

ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS

In this group, research is concentrated mainly in the field of Climate Modelling, Satellite Meteorology, Radar Meteorology, Monsoon Meteorology and Tropical Cyclone. This group is currently involved in MAHASRI and GEOSS projects with the collaboration to Japanese research group. These projects are funded by Grant Aid of Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport in Japanese Government, Japan, for real time flood monitoring and forecasting in this region, especially in the Meghna Basin of Bangladesh. They are currently involved in a collaboration research with HyARC, Nagoya University for the statistical studies on the characteristics of precipitation in and around Bangladesh. The project is funded by TRMM-RA4. They are also using MM5 modelling system from 2002 for studying the organization mechanism and basic characteristics of convections develop in this region. Regional Climate Model (RCM) named RegCM3 is running in the Department from 2004 under APN project through BUP, Bangladesh. Another RCM called PRECIS is running in the Department from 2005 with the collaboration to DoE (Department of Environment), Ministry of Environment and Forest. RCMs are using to obtain the climatic scenario in this region.