Applied physics

"Applied Physics" redirects here. For other uses, see Applied physics (disambiguation).

Experiment using a laser

A magnetic resonance image

Computer modeling of the space shuttle during re-entry

Applied physics is a general term for physics which is intended for a particular technological or practical use. It is usually considered as a bridge or a connection between "pure" physics and engineering.

"Applied" is distinguished from "pure" by a subtle combination of factors such as the motivation and attitude of researchers and the nature of the relationship to the technology or science that may be affected by the work. It usually differs from engineering in that an applied physicist may not be designing something in particular, but rather is using physics or conducting physics research with the aim of developing new technologies or solving an engineering problem. This approach is similar to that of applied mathematics. In other words, applied physics is rooted in the fundamental truths and basic concepts of the physical sciences but is concerned with the utilization of these scientific principles in practical devices and systems.

Applied physicists can also be interested in the use of physics for scientific research. For instance, people working on accelerator physics seek to build better accelerators for research in theoretical physics.

Fields and areas of research

Accelerator physics Acoustics Agrophysics Analog Electronics Force microscopy and imaging Ballistics Biophysics Communication Physics Computational physics Control Theory Digital Electronics Econophysics Engineering physics Fiber Optics Fluid dynamics Geophysics Laser physics Medical physics

Metrological Physics Microfluidics Nanotechnology Nondestructive testing Nuclear engineering Nuclear technology Optics Optoelectronics Photovoltaics Plasma physics Quantum electronics Semiconductor physics and devices Soil Physics Solid state physics Space physics Spintronics Superconductors Vehicle dynamics

Journals by publisher

• American Institute of Physics
  • Journal of Applied Physics
  • Applied Physics Letters
• Japan Society of Applied Physics
  • Japanese Journal of Applied Physics
  • Applied Physics Express
• IOP Publishing
  • Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
• Springer
  • Applied Physics (journal)
  • Applied Physics A
  • Applied Physics B

Institutions/organizations

• International Union of Pure and Applied Physics
• Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
• Applied Physics Laboratory, John Hopkins University
• National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
• School of Pure and Applied Physics, Mahatma Gandhi University
• Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing, China
• Institute of Applied Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

See also

• Engineering physics/Engineering science