The Department of Physics and Astronomy is housed in the historic Nicholson Hall at the very center of Louisiana State University's beautiful campus. Our department is one of the seven top Foundations of Excellence departments within the university and contains many world renowned physicists and astronomers who collectively bring in $8 million in federal research funding every year. This funding supports a diverse research team including not only the faculty and research associates, but graduate students and undergraduates as well. Our goal is to provide experience of real research to every physics major at some point during their degree. Many of our students participate in research throughout their time at LSU, publish papers, and attend conferences.

Some of the topics of research in the department include nano-technology, observational astronomy, experimental nuclear physics, quantum computing, medical imaging, general relativity, cosmic ray physics, laser physics, theoretical and computational astrophysics, superconductivity, neutrino physics, quantum criticality, and gravitational wave research. Our faculty use major national and international research facilities as well as local sites such as the Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD) in Baton Rouge, the Laser Interferometric Gravitational wave Observatory (LIGO) about 20 miles to the east of the city, and the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.