CMAP is a National Science Foundation Physics Frontier Center born out of two major breakthroughs in science. First, is the ability to explore matter at quantum-relevant pressures in the laboratory- conditions not previously explored on Earth, but common in planets and stars throughout the universe.
Second is the discovery of thousands of extrasolar planets and many more stars, changing humanity’s perceived role in the universe.
Hosted at the University of Rochester and designated as a National Science Foundation (NSF) Physics Frontiers Center, the Center for Matter at Atomic Pressures (CMAP) is a collaboration among faculty, scientists, researchers and students at MIT, Princeton, the Universities of California at Berkeley and Davis, the University at Buffalo, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
A pivotal time in the history of physics
By combining the talent and resources of leading institutions from across the country, CMAP researchers conduct laboratory-based exploration of planets and stars throughout the universe, including revolutionary states of matter right here on Earth.
January 3, 2023
Adam Frank writes in The Atlantic, “But across its millennia-long history, astronomy has always been a science of separation.”
December 8, 2022
Planetary nebulae—the ejected envelopes of red giant stars—provide us with a history of the last, mass-losing phases of 90% of stars initially more massive than the Sun.
CMAP’s cutting edge research explores the states and processes of the most extreme matter that can be produced with today’s laboratory capabilities, which may exist in the deep interiors of planets and stars throughout the universe.
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CMAP is committed to engaging the public and inspiring the next generation of scientists. We offer several outreach and education programs, including summer experiences for undergraduates and high school students.
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CMAP offers a variety of events, including a seminar series open to the general public and center meetings for faculty, scientists, researchers and students from our partner institutions. Check out CMAP’s upcoming events.
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