Welcome! It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Northern Illinois University Department of Physics Facebook Site. Vishnu Zutshi
Department Chair
We would be pleased to provide you with additional information about our department, programs, or people. You may contact us by phone at (815)753-1772, by FAX at (815)753-8565, or by email at [email protected] . NIU is located near Fermilab and Argonne and most faculty, and a large number of undergraduate and graduate students, are involved in research at these two national laboratories. NIU's physi
07/30/2026
Earlier this month we had the pleasure of hosting 20 high school students for a Physics camp here on campus. We spent the week learning about NIU's involvement in international research projects, visiting Fermilab for a day, making holograms, and creating our own cloud chamber particle detectors. Everyone had a a great time learning about the exciting world of Physics, and we hope to have a few new Huskies joining the dept soon!
07/06/2026
NIU Physics doctoral student Dorcas Joseph has been selected as a 2026-27 Student Ambassador for the American Physical Society, a prestigious leadership role. https://bit.ly/4uIlJOu
05/12/2026
NIU physics and engineering professors, alumni share in $3M Breakthrough Prize | NIU Newsroom NIU professors, alumni from physics and engineering share in $3 million Breakthrough Prize
05/04/2026
May the Fourth be with you!
04/30/2026
Fermilab teams up with NIU to launch quantum science program Fermilab and Northern Illinois University are joining forces to offer a unique Master of Science in Physics program specializing in quantum science and technology. This innovative graduate program combines the expertise of a DOE national laboratory quantum center and a prominent state university to....
02/22/2026
Quantum Entanglement Takes 232 Attoseconds to Form, Not Instantaneous
Scientists at TU Wien have discovered that quantum entanglement—the mysterious connection between particles—does not occur instantly. Instead, it develops over a measurable period of 232 attoseconds (1 attosecond = 10⁻¹⁸ seconds).
Using ultra-precise laser pulses to eject electrons from atoms, researchers were able to observe the gradual formation of correlations between particles. This “attosecond heartbeat” shows that even the fastest quantum processes have distinct, measurable stages.
The finding challenges the long-held assumption that entanglement is instantaneous and could have important implications for quantum computing, secure communication, and the fundamental understanding of quantum mechanics.
Source: TU Wien Research, 2026
02/14/2026
Happy Valentine's day everyone!