Research

PMA comprises three departments, each with its own research areas and academic offerings, and oversees a broad array of observational facilities, research centers and institutes.

The Department of Physics is internationally recognized for leadership in both theoretical and experimental research, including quantum information science, condensed matter physics, particle and nuclear physics, gravitational physics, and cosmology. Faculty and researchers combine precision experiments, advanced instrumentation, and powerful theoretical approaches to explore the fundamental principles governing the physical world.

The Department of Mathematics focuses on foundational research in pure and applied mathematics, with strengths in areas such as geometry and topology, analysis, probability, dynamical systems, and mathematical physics. Mathematical research at Caltech plays a critical role in advancing the physical sciences, providing essential tools and frameworks that connect mathematics with physics, astronomy, and engineering.

The Department of Astronomy is a global leader in observational, instrumental, and theoretical astronomy and astrophysics. Research spans planetary science, stellar and galactic astrophysics, black holes, cosmology, and the large-scale structure of the universe. The department is closely associated with major facilities and initiatives, including Caltech's leadership role in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), as well as ground- and space-based observatories.

These three departments form a tightly integrated research ecosystem that emphasizes depth, rigor, and close collaboration between theory, experiment, and observation.

Finally, PMA partners with all of the other divisions at Caltech, as well as a number of affiliated institutions:

• Biology and Biological Engineering (BBE)
• Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (CCE)
• Engineering and Applied Science (EAS)
• Geological and Planetary Sciences (GPS)
• Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS)