The research areas at the faculty of physics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich focus on astronomy, astrophysics and cosmology, molecular biophysics and statistical physics, solid state physics and nanophysics, theoretical and experimental elementary particle physics, laser optics and quantum optics, atmospheric physics and meteorology, medical physics, mathematical physics as well as physics education.

In the field of experimental particle physics the scientists work together with the ATLAS collaboration at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Geneva. Research areas are detector construction as well as evaluation of data from high-energetic particle collisions at the Large Hadron Collider. Central aspect of the data analysis are searches for new elementary particles, which, for example, are predicted by supersymmetric extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. To cope with the enormous data volumes, a worldwide network (the GRID) of computing and storage capacities has been set up. LMU and LRZ Munich maintain a so-called Tier-2 computing centre for storing and processing of these data. Research areas in theoretical particle physics are fundamental symmetries and the field of strong and electroweak interactions.

The faculty of physics offers Bachelor's and Master's degree programs. A wide variety of lectures and tutorials guarantees an in-depth training of the students. The faculty also offers a diverse array of specialisations.

The Max-Planck-Institut für Physik (MPP) is one of 86 independent research institutes of the Max Planck Society. MPP is working in fundamental research in the field of elementary particle physics and astroparticle physics to answer essential questions about the fundamental elements of matter, their interactions and the role they play in astrophysics.

MPP is involved in particle physics experiments at CERN (ATLAS and AWAKE) and KEK in Japan Belle II). The research field of astroparticle physics includes experiments like the MAGIC telescopes (La Palma/Spain) for research in high energetic cosmic gamma rays and the search for dark matter with the CRESST experiment (Gran Sasso/Italy). Furthermore the MPP has initiated a project - MADMAX on the search of axions as potential building blocks of dark matter.

The department of Theoretical Physics is involved in research on fundamental questions in elementary particle physics. The focus is on gravitational theory and quantum field theory and on exploring new mathematical and phenomenological methods. In addition, theoretical physics at MPP covers questions at the intersection of astrophysics and cosmology.

Excellence Cluster ORIGINS:
From the Origin of the Universe to the First Building Blocks of Life

The Excellence Cluster ORIGINS investigates the development of the Universe from the Big Bang to the emergence of life. The interdisciplinary research network has been funded within the framework of the Excellence Strategy of the German Federation and the Länder since January 2019 and builds on the research achievements of the Excellence Cluster Universe (2006-2018), which has attracted worldwide attention. ORIGINS uniquely combines the disciplines of astrophysics, biophysics and particle physics to search for the connection between planet formation and the formation of the first prebiotic molecules. Among other things, the scientists want to show that life is the product of a natural process, a logical outcome of the evolution of the Universe - which can be understood based on the laws of physics and chemistry and the initial conditions created by the Big Bang. The Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität (LMU), the Technical University of Munich (TUM), five Max Planck Institutes, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the Leibniz Computing Centre (LRZ) are involved in the Excellence Cluster ORIGINS.