PRESENTATION

Aims and objectives
The prime objective of the Department of Physics (DIFIS) is the study and understanding of fundamental physical phenomena at the basis of all technological innovation. All research is aimed at the examination of fundamental interactions between the elements of matter. It also endeavours to create a context of technology rooted in theoretical physics at the highest level to support the development of new fields of learning in engineering. This outlook gives priority to the applications of contemporary physics in the area of the molecular, atomic and nuclear structure of matter: from magnetism to superconductivity and ultrasound techniques, from quantum and nuclear physics to elementary particle technology and complex systems, from semiconductors to statistical mechanics.

Research activities
Research at DIFIS focuses on the study of the fundamental physical phenomena and its expression in advanced technological applications. Research is experimental, theoretical and computational – in that it utilises mathematical models and powerful computers. It spans many different areas. These include: the study of nano structures able to sustain numerical quantum calculation; the analysis of the physical and chemical properties of liquid crystals; the fundamental principles of relativity and quantum mechanics; the dynamics of vortices in Bose-Einstein condensates. There are still other areas: the analysis of magnetic materials; the study of new materials for optic and electronic applications; the creation of electronic and optical devices with semiconductor and insulating materials; the theoretical and practical study of the properties of subnuclear particles and the interactions between matter and antimatter; the study of statistical mechanics models for complex systems (including biological sy-stems) and the examination of transport systems of antimatter.
Together, all of these studies guarantee the place of the Politecnico di Torino at the forefront of international research. Less time elapses nowadays between scientific discoveries and their technological applications. This has meant that levels of quality are always on the increase.
Many national and international public bodies work in collaboration with the Department, bringing in financial backing in return. National bodies include ASI, CNR, ESF, INFM, INFN, and MIUR. The European Union and NATO are among the international bodies involved.
Furthermore, research scientists from the Department are sometimes seconded to private companies – such as OPComputers, GRINP, CESI and INCAS to provide technological transfer for research contracts or projects. The DIFIS works in collaboration with many universities. Many of these are Italian, including Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Ferrara, Florence, Genoa, L'Aquila, Milan, Naples, Padua, Parma, Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome Tor Vergata, and Turin.
Many others are foreign, such as Humboldt University – Berlin; Caltech, Universidade Estadual de Campinas – Brazil; University de Fribourg, Chalmers University at Gothenborg – Sweden; University of Uppsala – Sweden, Universitat Mainz - Germany, University of Kiev – Ukraine; Katolische Universitat Leuven – Belgium; Imperial College of London, University of Ljubljana – Slovenia; Université de Lausanne, University of Maringà – Brazil; UPM Marseille, Kat. University of Njimegen – Holland; Southern Illinois University, University H. Poincaré, Nancy, Sherbrooke University – Québec; Universitad Politécnica de Valencia, Stanford University, University of Wisconsin.

Teaching
The DIFIS provides teaching at all three levels of education specified in new university regulations. The Department runs all of the basic physics courses and physics laboratories for the degree programme. This amounts to 55 teaching modules, and between Turin and the regional centres around 2,000 students per year follow an average of two modules each. The specialist degree has 20 courses run by the DIFIS. In particular, all courses leading to the new professional qualification of physics engineer are run by the DIFIS. Physical engineering as a discipline is now in demand in many sectors using applications of advanced technology, and four specific areas of study have been provided especially. These are: environmental geophysics, condensed matter, optics, particle technology.

Staff and organisation
There are 28 professors and lecturers, responsible for 76 courses. There are 13 research staff, 12 doctorate students and 15 research grant and scholarship holders. Technical and administrative staff number 13.
The Department houses an independent section of the National Institute of Material Physics (INFM).