The Institute for High Energy Physics (IFAE) conducts research at the frontiers of fundamental physics, namely in particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology. The centre has two divisions: experimental and theoretical research.
The research activities of the theoretical division focus on the standard model and theories that go beyond it, in particle astrophysics and cosmology. The experimental division carries out experiments with particle accelerators in Europe (such as at CERN), the USA, Japan and the Canary Islands (using gamma-ray telescopes such as MAGIC), and in Chile, with cosmological observations.
A medical physics group is meanwhile developing digital imaging techniques for diagnostic purposes.
The IFAE is also a training centre, recognised as a university institute affiliated with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), enabling it to offer masters’ programmes and supervise doctoral theses.
