Faculty: Rafael Brahm, Jorge Cuadra, Andrés Jordán, Gijs Mulders, Diego Munoz, Pablo Benitez-LLambay. Staff: Vincent Suc. Postdoctoral researchers: Alex Gormaz-Matamala, Marcelo Tala, Ximena Soledad Ramos, and Aritra Chakrabarty.
We have a strong focus on the discovery and atmospheric characterization of exoplanets, and understanding the formation of planets and planetary systems in protoplanetary disks. We work on various ground-based projects such as HATSouth, HATPI and follow-up of space-based missions, most notably TESS. Regarding the latter, we are a leading group in the discovery of warm giants, loosely defined as giant planets with radii larger than 0.4 Jupiter raii and periods larget than 10 days. We carry out simulations of both planetary system populations to compare with observations and of individual protoplanetary disks to understand planetary formation and disk physics. Additional research topics are small telescope instrumentation and time domain astronomy.
We also have a strong interest in understanding different astrophysical systems via numerical simulations, with a focus on the hydrodynamics of accreting objects, such as the Galactic Centre, discs around young binary stars and super-massive black holes, and protoplanetary discs. Check out the site of the PLAGA group and the site of Diego Munoz.
Faculty: Nathalie Casanova, Andrés Concha, Paula Mellado, Alejandro Pereira.
Condensed matter nowadays covers several fields of physics, with scales that span many orders of magnitude, and subjects as distant between them as biophysics and topological computing. There are two common threads in the field: the first is that models are primarily concerned with the low energy physics of the system and the second is that the subjects of study have a direct link with natural or man made materials. The understanding of the current states of matter, of the available materials, and the search for new ones is a vast task with many possible approaches. This is accomplished for instance by studying the transport properties of a system for the understanding of its electronic, magnetic, optical and structural aspects. The diverse strategies have resulted in several sub-disciplines in condensed matter over the years, aiming to improve our understanding of nature, advance fundamental knowledge, predict new phenomena and to be able to manipulate the physical systems/matter for the benefit of society.
We work in quantum and classical field theories and for that effect it uses theoretical and experimental strategies alike. Examples of the subjects we have investigated include superconductivity, superfluidity, elasticity, fluids, magnetism and semiconductors like graphene. In particular Professor Professor Andres Concha advocates most of his research to classical field theories like fluids, elasticity and magnetism, and Professor Paula Mellado focuses mostly in problems found in the realm of quantum and classical magnetism. Professor Pereira works on the synthesis, morphological and magnetic characterization of nanostructures and nanostructured materials. Professor Casanova focuses on biophysics, developing of nanobiotechnology sensors and nanorheology of proteins.
Faculty: Andrés Anabalón, Felipe Asenjo, Osvaldo Chandía, Giovanna Cottin, Hernán González, Sergio Hojman, Francisco Rojas, Gianni Tallarita. Postdoctoral researchers: Ivania Maturana, Carlos Rubio
We carry out research in string theory, strong coupling models in holographic superconductivity, particle physics phenomenology (including LHC@CERN), black hole physics, gravitation, plasma physics in astrophysical environments, foundations of quantum mechanics, AdS/CFT, conservation laws in gauge theories, symmetries and conservation laws, inverse problem in variational calculus and propagation of spin particles and waves in gravitational fields.