Dr. Justin Wark

Biography

Professor Justin Wark works in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford, where he leads the Oxford Centre for High Energy Density Science (OxCHEDS). His research interests focus on High Energy Density Science, exploring the creation, diagnosis, and the behavior of matter under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure, conditions typically found in the centers of giant planets and stars. His group utilizes the world’s most powerful optical and X-ray lasers to conduct experiments that simulate these extreme environments. These experiments achieve pressures of tens of millions of atmospheres and temperatures in the millions of degrees. The phenomena generated during these brief experiments can last mere femtoseconds, requiring sophisticated measurements to be taken in a very short time frame. The experimental data collected informs fundamental theories about dense, hot systems, with direct implications for the pursuit of laser-driven fusion energy. In addition to his research, he is committed to education, teaching a wide range of subjects within the undergraduate physics syllabus, with a specialization in Atomic and Molecular Physics, Quantum Mechanics, and Condensed Matter Physics. He also lectures on Plasma Physics, aiming to provide students with a foundational understanding of the modeling approaches to the visible universe.

Research Interests