Physikalisches Institut of University of Bonn

The Physikalisches Institut was built from 1911 to 1913. Heinrich Kayser, Heinrich Konen and Wolfgang Paul, among others, taught here. The Physikalisches Institut conducts research in a wide variety of fields and is also a center for teaching. Students are taught the basics of physics and can expand and deepen their knowledge in further courses of study.

News
DRD1 Gaseous Detectors School 2025 at University of Bonn
From September 17 to 24, 2025, 25 young researchers from around the world gained deeper insights into the physics, technologies, and applications of gas-filled detectors. 
ROT Summer Symposium on Friday, September 19
Please register until September 10!
Wobbling precisely through space
As the Earth moves through space, it wobbles slightly. A team of researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the University of Bonn has now succeeded in measuring these fluctuations in the Earth's axis using a completely new method – until now, possible only through complex radio astronomy. The team used the high-precision ring laser at TUM's geodetic observatory in Wettzell, Bavaria. The results of the 250-day experiment have now been published in the renowned journal Science Advances.
Students from Belgium, Canada, Mexico, Türkiye and the USA win the 12th edition of Beamline for Schools
Beamline for Schools (BL4S) is a physics competition that was initiated by CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, and is open to secondary school pupils from all around the world. Participants are invited to submit a proposal for a physics experiment to be undertaken at the beamline of a particle accelerator, either at CERN or at one of the partner institutes: DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron in Hamburg, Germany) and ELSA (Elektronen-Stretcher-Anlage of the University of Bonn, Germany). In 2025, a record number of five winning teams have been chosen, based on both the scientific merit of their proposals and the communication merit of their submission video.
Events
HEP Theory Seminar: Neutrino oscillations and scattering theory
Nussallee 12, 53115 Bonn
02:15 PM - 04:15 PM
"Neutrino oscillations and scattering theory" - Für weitere Angaben folgen Sie dem Link in der Kategorie "Weitere Informationen". For further details, follow ...
Amplitudes Seminar: TBA
Nussallee 12, 53115 Bonn
11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
"TBA" - Für weitere Angaben folgen Sie dem Link in der Kategorie "Weitere Informationen". For further details, follow the link in the "Additional Information" ...
Particle Physics Seminar: The Light Dark Matter eXperiment — a...
ROT
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
"The Light Dark Matter eXperiment — a new window into the dark Universe" - Für weitere Angaben folgen Sie dem Link in der Kategorie "Weitere Informationen". ...
Particle Physics Seminar: Brainstorming Session for Particle P...
ROT
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
"Brainstorming Session for Particle Physics Seminar" - Für weitere Angaben folgen Sie dem Link in der Kategorie "Weitere Informationen". For further details, ...

About us

An international team of scientists and students is involved in research and teaching at the Physikalisches Institut. Technical and administrative staff create the conditions for successful operation in all areas of work.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Daniel Jacobi / Universität Bonn

Institute

Click on the link below to get an overview of the
facilities of the institute. On the page you will also find the contact persons for different
areas as well as further information.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© jcomp / Freepik

Members

More than 250 people work together at the Physikalisches Institut. Find out who we are!

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Colourbox

Policies for Protection Against Sexualized Discrimination and Violence

Sexualized discrimination and violence are not tolerated at the Physikalisches Institut. A respectful and trusting as well as non-discriminatory cooperation of all members, relatives and guests is a matter of course for the University of Bonn.

Research

At the Physics Institute, research is conducted in a wide variety of fields. Various research facilities are available for this purpose, including the university's own ELSA accelerator facility. The broad-based research entails a large number of offers for students.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Dominik Köhler / Universität Bonn

Research Focus

At the Physics Institute, research is conducted in the main areas of particle physics, condensed matter and photonics, and accelerator physics

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Volker Lannert / Universität Bonn

Research Groups

The Physics Institute has many different research groups working in the various focus areas.

Eine Wissenschaftlerin und ein Wissenschaftler arbeiten hinter einer Glasfassade und mischen Chemikalien mit Großgeräten.
© Volker Lannert / Universität Bonn

Research Facilities

The Physics Institute houses a variety of facilities from a wide range of research areas. 

The Department of Physics and Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy consists of the Physikalisches Institut, the Helmholtz Institute for Radiation and Nuclear Physics, the Institute for Applied Physics and the Argelander Institute for Astronomy. The physicists of these four institutions jointly design and conduct a broad program of offerings for students, researchers, as well as for young people and the general public.

Startseite-Studium
© Fynn Schubert / Universität Bonn

About studying physics

In the various courses of study, the fundamentals of experimental and theoretical physics are taught and comprehensively deepened.

Startseite-Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
© Highlights der Physik / Offer

Outreach activities

Various events in the field of public relations offer a broad audience an insight into the world of physics.

Wolfgang-Paul-Lecture

Wolfgang Paul was professor of physics at Physikalisches Institut of University of Bonn from 1952 to 1993. In remembrance of Wolfgang Paul highly distinguished physicists are regularly invited to give the Wolfgang Paul Lecture at the institute. This lecture series is made possible by the Wolfgang Paul foundation which was generously supported by himself with half of his Nobel Prize money.

Contact

Institute Director

Office

Institute Manager

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