Condensed matter physics is concerned with understanding and exploiting the properties of solids and liquids and the large area that this covers makes it the largest field of contemporary physics. At the fundamental level, researchers in this field are interested in uncovering the simple physical principles that underlay the often complex behaviors of condensed matter systems. However, the importance of many of these materials to present and future technologies also drives a large amount of applied research in the field.

The Photonics and Nanostructures Laboratory is involved in the growth of optical devices on 5nm-500nm length scales. The hope is to be able to control the photonic and electronic eigenstates of the structures; by utilizing etching, electron beam lithography and deposition techniques to construct 3 dimensional semiconductor microstructures. The successful development of this technology will serve as the foundation of the next and the next-to-next generation of photonics and electronics.

The Molecular Beam Epitaxy Lab is involved in semiconductor film growth, modelling and electronic and optical properties. Specifically, the use of Nitrides and Bismides and the fabrication of nanostructures utilizing deposition techniques. This group pioneered the use of diffuse light scattering to dynamically monitor surface morphology, and is currently researching the modeling of surface morphology and electronic structure of deposited films.

UBC physics also boasts a number of world class condensed matter theorists; whose research interests include high temperature Superconductors, conformal field theory, photonic band-gap materials, diluted magnetic superconductors, strong correlated electrons, and various applications of statistical mechanics.