The Department of Theoretical Physics and the Department of Physics were established as two separate units in 1960 and merged together under the latter name during the 1970-1971 academic year. Distinguished physicists Erdal İnönü and Feza Gürsey played seminal roles during the development of our department in the 1960's and initiated research programs on particle physics and gravitation. Starting with 1970's they were joined by several young scientists, Ordal Demokan, Cavit Erginsoy, Dilhan Eryurt, Hakkı Ögelman, to name a few, who have launched research programs in areas including but not limited to Plasma Physics, Solid State Physics, Astrophysics and Solar Energy. The quickly emerging scientific atmosphere of the department strongly contributed to the cultivation and growth of both nationally and internationally recognized research and education programs in our department, which, with the contribution of several generations of faculty and students, grew into a tradition of excellence in research and education. Our faculty embraces this tradition and is committed to continue to pursue cutting-edge scientific research encompassing a wide range of modern branches of physics and disseminate the know-how and the joy of scientific inquiry in physics to many new generations to come.

Today, with 32 faculty members, nearly 35 research assistants, almost 100 graduate and close to 600 undergraduate students, our department runs vibrant graduate and undergraduate programs which are oriented for students to gain a solid background in fundamentals of physics and at the same time provide them the opportunity to explore, in depth, areas of applied and theoretical physics via a large selection of elective courses.

Presently, our faculty is engaged in research in several different exciting fields, including Astrophysics, Experimental and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, High Energy Physics Experiment, Phenomenology & Theory, Lasers & Laser Technologies, Optoelectronics & Photonics, Mathematical Physics, Nuclear Physics, Plasma Physics, Quantum Information Theory & Technologies, Solar Energy Physics, Space Science & Technologies and strives to produce top quality research results contributing to the enhancement or discovery of new physical phenomena and innovative technologies, which will have strong international impact and support the scientific knowledge-based and technological advancement of our nation. Our faculty continues to pursue several nationally and internationally funded research projects, has strong ties with the internationally recognized research centers and organizations and in contact with numerous research groups abroad specializing in diverse research fields and directions in order to sustain and enhance the involvement of our department in the web of collaborative research around the globe.