What Are the Hottest Research Areas for a PhD in Physics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the most promising and financially lucrative research areas for pursuing a PhD in physics. Participants explore various fields, including nanotechnology, energy solutions, and computational physics, while also considering the motivations behind choosing a research path.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that nanotechnology, particularly high-k dielectrics and spintronics, represents a significant area of research with potential for development and financial gain.
  • Others propose that energy-related research, such as nuclear fusion and renewable energy technologies, could be the next big thing due to impending energy crises.
  • Computational physics, especially in condensed matter systems, is mentioned as a hot research area, though some express concerns about the accessibility of particle physics.
  • A few participants emphasize the importance of pursuing research based on personal interest rather than solely for financial reasons.
  • There is a humorous exchange regarding the "sexiness" of physics and the perception of physicists in society.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on what constitutes the "next big thing" in physics, with multiple competing views on promising research areas and motivations for pursuing them.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions reflect uncertainty about the implications of pursuing certain fields, and there are varying opinions on the relationship between financial incentives and academic interests in physics.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering a PhD in physics, those interested in current trends in physics research, and professionals exploring potential career paths in STEM fields may find this discussion relevant.

sniffer
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if someone wants to starts PhD in physics from scratch, what is the sexiest research?

i mean what is the next BIG thing in physics, something that leads to both intense development and BIG money!. . .. :biggrin: :biggrin:

no body wants to be a poor physicist . what do think guys?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Rethink your intentions before stepping into the void. Otherwise you will never see the light of day unless you are able to strip your materialistic views.
Those who choose the theoretical part of the natural sciences do not do it for the monetary award.
 
Sexiest? electron stripping

.
.
.

anyone get it?
 
That made my day
 
ok. money aside.

what is the next big thing?
 
I see strings that lead to a path of no return.
 
sniffer said:
if someone wants to starts PhD in physics from scratch, what is the sexiest research?

i mean what is the next BIG thing in physics, something that leads to both intense development and BIG money!. . .. :biggrin: :biggrin:

no body wants to be a poor physicist . what do think guys?

nanotechnology, more specifically high k dielectrics (read my journal for moe info on the phd students life in the nanotech world) and spintronics : the application of General Relativity in semi conductor physics. You know that Einstein proved that if you take two observers and one electric field, the observer that is standing still wrt the E field sees the actual E field but the moving observer sees a B field in stead of an E field.

When you want to manipulate the spin of conduction electrons, you need to apply a B field but realizing this relativity effect, you can manipulate the spin without using a B field. The moving electrons will see the electrical field as a B field and thus you can use electrical quantities to change the spin. You also know that if the B field is perpendicular to the spin direction and if it is strong enough, you can change the spins over direction 180 degrees. This technique can be used to manipulate the info stored in a certain spin-polarized sample...

Here is where i do my phd : http://www.imec.be/ and we have a prof here that has published an article in NATURE on this spintronics stuff.

marlon
 
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a good website. interesting.
which country is at the moment the leader in nano-technology?
any specific institutions?

i heard about the impending oil crisis. we will soon leave our carbon economy.

maybe energy sector is going to be very the next big thing?
such as nuclear power, or revolutionary solar cells etc.
ITER? thermonuclear?

technology which are crisis-driven tend to break new grounds.

? maybe.


thanks.
 
hmmh... sorry. it takes me sometime to contemplate what you said in the 2nd paragraph there, marlon.

this part on your web solar cells: http://www.imec.be/ovinter/static_research/solarcells.shtml
related to what i said in previous post.


For Nusc: yes, what you said is correct. i agree in a sense that for physicist, some how we need to think in more idealistic way. often good physicist only ends up teaching. if we don't appreciate what we have, we cannot "see the light of day" as you said.

thanks.
 
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  • #10
sniffer said:
hmmh... sorry. it takes me sometime to contemplate what you said in the 2nd paragraph there, marlon.

this part on your web solar cells: http://www.imec.be/ovinter/static_research/solarcells.shtml
related to what i said in previous post.

what exactly do you mean ?

marlon
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #11
There's a lot of really hot research in computational physics, particularly with condensed matter systems, out there right now. Particle physics I guess is always "sexy", but it's an extremely difficult field to break into, and a lot of the physics community has some issues with the way high energy theory is conducted right now.
 
  • #12
Something related to the new technologies for cheaper and cleaner energy. Oil is going to run out so we need something new. If I was a genious I would go for Nuclear Fussion.
 
  • #13
controlled fusion, biological nanoblocks

in computing, by some estimates (http://www.aeiveos.com/~bradbury/petaflops/siardmap.html) in 2014 the CPUs will have a 34 nm feature size, 19.3 Ghz internal clock, 664 million logic transistors/cm^2, 4308 million transistors per chip, 48 GB dram, and 0.5 voltage core. And by other estimates the size will shrink down to 22 nm (0.022 microns)
 
  • #14
cronxeh said:
controlled fusion, biological nanoblocks

in computing, by some estimates (http://www.aeiveos.com/~bradbury/petaflops/siardmap.html) in 2014 the CPUs will have a 34 nm feature size, 19.3 Ghz internal clock, 664 million logic transistors/cm^2, 4308 million transistors per chip, 48 GB dram, and 0.5 voltage core. And by other estimates the size will shrink down to 22 nm (0.022 microns)


All that for Microsoft Word 2014
 
  • #15
marlon said:
You know that Einstein proved that if you take two observers and one electric field, the observer that is standing still wrt the E field sees the actual E field but the moving observer sees a B field in stead of an E field.

Einstein proved that? I thought that arose naturally from Maxwell's study of Electromagnetic Phenomena.
 
  • #16
Pengwuino said:
All that for Microsoft Word 2014

Yeah, but with a graphics engine that powerful behind Word we now know what the sexiest thing will be...

the worlds sexiest paperclip.

~Lyuokdea
 
  • #17
ahahaha

Itd be 3d and would read your mind
 
  • #18
Quantum computing and cryptography
 
  • #19
My opinion is...

There might be a global war, when energy crisis reaches its peak. Iraq was just the beginning. Therefore knowledge of nuclear fusion technology might have value of gold.

Nanotechnology is a production process of the future. Proprietors of big production companies will pay much to those, who are able to construct the finest equipment.
 
  • #20
f someone wants to starts PhD in physics from scratch, what is the sexiest research?

i mean what is the next BIG thing in physics, something that leads to both intense development and BIG money!. . ..

no body wants to be a poor physicist . what do think guys?

sexy...big money?...uhmm, modeling? Underwear modeling? Women find doctors extremely sexy, after all women find intelligence to be the sexiest trait, not "physics intelligence" though. You're not going to be sexy becoming a physicist. Brian Green, "intense development" "big money", not sexy
 
  • #21
I wouldn't know much about sexiness, but in terms 'the next big thing', I'd be looking at nanotechnology, and renewable energy sources.
 
  • #22
GCT said:
sexy...big money?...uhmm, modeling? Underwear modeling? Women find doctors extremely sexy, after all women find intelligence to be the sexiest trait, not "physics intelligence" though. You're not going to be sexy becoming a physicist. Brian Green, "intense development" "big money", not sexy

Really? I thought Stephen Hawking got all the women?

PL
 
  • #23
Poop-Loops said:
Really? I thought Stephen Hawking got all the women?

PL


ohh that was low.




And the fuel thing, it already exists, but with these large oil corporations it would ruin our economy. :cry: so its a catch 22 situation.
 
  • #24
Poop-Loops said:
Really? I thought Stephen Hawking got all the women?

PL
:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

marlon
 
  • #25
sniffer said:
i mean what is the next BIG thing in physics, something that leads to both intense development and BIG money!. . .. :biggrin: :biggrin:
Forget about research, you'd better to teach at university.

no body wants to be a poor physicist . what do think guys?

You need to be rich to study physics. You know physics is the interest of rich people whoentertain themselves by saying things that anyone can understand you. In fact poor people must be crazy to study physics.

PS Don't take what I said seriously. :rolleyes:
 
  • #26
Shouldn't you rather go with what you're interested in? If you go with something just because it's the next big thing you'll probably never accomplish anything because you'd be lacking the drive good researchers have.
 
  • #27
If you want money, run your own business. The average Pizza shop owner
makes much more money than the average Physicist. Think about that the
next time you are eating pizza and cramming for a hard exam.

You must go into physics only if you love doing physics and are good at it.
(This advice applies to any carrer BTW, not just physics.)
 
  • #28
if you want to be rich, you should become a SUCCESFUL Hollywood actor or a Microsoft CEO or be like Britney Spears, Warren Buffet, George Bush, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia,

regards
marlon
 
  • #29
marlon said:
if you want to be rich, you should become a SUCCESFUL Hollywood actor or a Microsoft CEO or be like Britney Spears, Warren Buffet, George Bush, King Fahd of Saudi Arabia,

regards
marlon

These things require more talent than studying Physics :smile:
 
  • #30
heman said:
These things require more talent than studying Physics :smile:
Talent? I don't think so. First you need to be lucky, and then perhaps your talent could help you.
 

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