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The Department of Physics, School of Science, was established in 1931 by Hantarou Nagaoka, at that time the President of Osaka University, as a center for research in physics. Many discoveries of historical importance were made here during the era when quantum mechanics was being developed. The foundation of these discoveries was a free and open atmosphere and, above all, the promotion of originality in research. This tradition is alive and well today.
In 1995, the Department was re-organized, establishing the Department of Physics, Graduate School of Science. There are five chairs: Condensed Matter Physics, Physics of Particle and Nuclei, Fundamental Physics, Quantum Physics, and Interdisciplinary Physics. In addition, there are five collaborative chairs operating in cooperation with other research institutes in Osaka University. This enhances both the research and educational activities of the Department.
A total of 68 students are enrolled each year into the master's degree course and 33 for the doctoral course. We also permit brilliant students to enroll in the master's degree course directly after the third year of the undergraduate degree course. This program, started in 1991 and at that time the first such program in Japan, has already been of assistance to 13 students.
Education and Research
(1)Distinctive features
The Department of Physics is responsible for education and research in one of the fundamental fields of natural science. Though modern science is very diverse, there is a foundation that is common to all the sciences. This foundation, of which physics is a crucial part, is often the origin of new scientific ideas. The broad scope of, and the firm grounding afforded by, the education offered by the Department of Physics enables our students, who will become leaders in the academic and industrial worlds, to respond to the diversity at the frontiers of modern physics and technology.
(2) Curriculum
The Department Physics is offering a wide curriculum in response to the rapid developments in technology, physics and interdisciplinary research:
- (a) Some primary subjects, common to both the graduate and undergraduate courses, were introduced.
- (b) Students are also encouraged to complete courses given by other departments of the School of Science so as to provide the broad background necessary for innovative research.
- (c) A Seminar for Interdisciplinary Areas and a Special Seminar for Interdisciplinary Areas were introduced.
- (d) In addition to the core curriculum, students enroll in one of three specialized options:
- Course A (Theory: Fundamental Physics and Quantum Physics),
- Course B (Experiment: Physics of Particle and Nuclei), and
- Course C (Experiment: Condensed Matter Physics).
