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University of Oxford Physics

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This is the official page for Alumni & Friends of the Department of Physics at the University of Oxfo Many thanks for your cooperation.

The Department of Physics Alumni Relations Office works to develop, nurture and promote a continuing relationship between the Department and its alumni. We also work with current students, staff, researchers and friends of the Department, aiming and enhancing the experience of being part of one of the largest and most successful Departments of Physics in the world. We will be working in developing

17/06/2026

An international study has confirmed that the expansion of the universe continues to accelerate, resolving recent debates. By re-examining Type Ia supernovae data, researchers proved that stellar age variations do not undermine evidence for dark energy. This robust validation allows the global physics community to confidently move past measurement doubts and refocus on solving the mystery of what dark energy actually is. Read the full article via link in bio or https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/news/new-study-confirms-universes-expansion-still-accelerating

16/06/2026

Oxford University spin-out Oxford Quantum Circuits has secured £260 million in an oversubscribed Series C funding round, the largest ever for a European quantum company. The enterprise integrates superconducting quantum computers directly into commercial data centres. This landmark investment will support global expansion, accelerate hardware development, and advance system performance, bringing scalable quantum computing closer to widespread commercial adoption. Read the full article via link in bio or visit https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/news/oqc-raises-ps260-million-largest-european-quantum-funding-round
For OQC website: https://oqc.tech/

15/06/2026

Scientists at Oxford have detected "spinon" particles within a quantum spin liquid for the first time. By analyzing ultra-small magnetic fluctuations in the mineral Herbertsmithite, the team used impurity atoms as quantum witnesses to prove the material's unique state. This milestone provides a new method to measure and control quantum entanglement, paving the way for the development of scalable, stable quantum computers. Read more via link in bio or visit https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/news/quantum-spin-liquid-elementary-particles-witnessed-first-time-oxford

15/06/2026

NEW video - Watch 'Neutrinos, the Universe and Everything' by Professor Kirsty Duffy on our YouTube channel. Link in bio or visit
https://youtu.be/xszK8T04O9I ✨

14/06/2026

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) were discovered in 2007 by a team of astrophysicists at West Virginia University. The discovery began when astronomy professor Duncan Lorimer and his undergraduate student, David Narkevic, re-analyzed archival data collected in 2001 by the Parkes Observatory in Australia (https://gwac.wvu.edu/about/people/duncan-lorimer).

Join us on June 16th in person or online, to learn all about it:
'The Brightest Pulses In The Universe'
The 31st Hintze Public Lecture will be delivered by Professor Duncan Lorimer FRS from West Virginia University, USA. The public lecture will be hosted in person at the Martin Wood Complex, and streamed online via Zoom (link on the webpage). For those attending in person, the talk will be followed by a drinks reception. No registration is required, please be seated by 16:55hs.
To learn more about this event and/or get the online link, visit https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/events/31st-hintze-public-lecture-professor-duncan-lorimer or link in bio.

12/06/2026

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has begun, so we thought it is the perfect time to learn about the Magnus effect, showing how a simple spin can bend a football's path or help a satellite stay in orbit.
Ever wonder how your favourite players make a football "bend" in mid-air? 🧙‍♂️⚽
It’s not magic - it’s the Magnus Effect! 🚀 Whether you are watching a "banana shot" on the pitch or a satellite orbiting the Earth, physics is everywhere. 🌍✨
In this short video, we break down:✅ Why a spinning ball curves away from a straight line ✅ How football legends use this to trick goalkeepers ✅ Why even spacecraft use spin to stay in orbit longer!

The Magnus effect on the Football Pitch: When a player kicks a ball off-centre, it begins to spin. This spin drags the air around it, making air move faster on one side than the other. Following Bernoulli’s principle, the faster air creates low pressure, while the slower air creates high pressure. This pressure difference pushes the ball, causing it to curve beautifully into the net - just like Roberto Carlos’ famous "banana shot" (see insert).
In Space: Even though space seems empty, there is a very thin atmosphere in Low Earth Orbit. When a satellite spins rapidly, it interacts with these gases to create a sideways "lift" force. Engineers can use this effect to help keep satellites from falling back to Earth, extending their mission life without using extra fuel.

So now you know, so you can play 'how many times can you spot the Magnus effect during your favourite team's match ?

10/06/2026

Oxford University's COMPOS physics outreach programme has been highly commended in the 2026 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for local community engagement. Initiated by Professor Alex Lvovsky, COMPOS supports talented state-school students with advanced STEM tutorials. Early-career researcher Dr James Matthews and alumnus Dr Muhammad Hamza Waseem were also shortlisted for their exceptional contributions to research and public engagement. Read the full article via link in bio or https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/news/physics-programme-highly-commended-vc-awards-2026

09/06/2026

Join us on Wednesday 10 June at 5pm, in person, for the 2026 Pride lecture. More information on our web/events, link in bio.

06/06/2026

The University of Oxford Department of Physics cordially invites alumni and invited guests to join us for an "Afternoon of Astrophysics: Cosmic Explosions in the Sky." Taking place on Saturday, 13 June 2026, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at the Martin Wood Lecture Theatre, this event features leading experts discussing supernovae, black holes, and the universe's most extreme physics. Please secure your place by registering via link in bio or https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/events/afternoon-astrophysics-cosmic-explosions-sky

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