The Faculty of Physics of the Yerevan State University was founded in 1933 and consisted of two chairs: Mathematics and General Physics, which was called the Chair of Experimental Physics. The first chairman of Chair of General Physics was Hovhannes Navakatikyan (1933-1937). Then there were heads of the chair: Norayr Kocharyan (1938-1952); Martyros Kyureghyan (1952-1960); Arshaluys Dadayan (1960-1968); Rafik Hovhannisyan (1968-1977); David Sedrakyan (1977-1987, 1994-2014 ); Gagik Vardanyan։ Head of Chair of General Physics I (1987-1993); Martin Abrahamyan: Head of Chair of General Physics II (1992-1994).

In 2009 the Chair of Astrophysics after V. Hambardzumyan has been merged with the Chair of General Physics and the Unified Chair is still called Chair of General Physics and Astrophysics after V. Hambardzumyan.
Since 2014 the Head of the Chair is Professor Atom Muradyan.

The Chair of General Physics is an educational-scientific collective, which includes a various research groups working in different branches of modern science, in both theoretical and experimental physics.

The scientific disciplines investigated in the Chair include:

The mechanisms of arising of magnetic fields in super fluid neutron stars; the radio emission of pulsars; the gravity emission of compact super dense objects.

The quantum-mechanic behavior of atoms in a periodic potentials; quantum interferometers; investigation of Bose-Einstein condensate.

The dynamics of the gravitating systems; the investigation of hydrodynamic vortices.

Investigation of non-ordered plastic and liquid crystal systems’ thermodynamic and elasticity properties.

Investigation of the optical properties of multi-layer systems with open wave vector surface and spiral structural layer, and of properties of photonic crystals.

Obtaining of natural biological nanostructures, their experimental investigation, and the mechanisms of their formation.

The optical properties of glasses containing semi-conductor nano-crystals, depending on of their thermal treatment regime.

The physical mechanisms of formation of ion and electron beams obtained by Penning discharge.

An inseparable part of the Chair is YSU Astrophysical Observatory, founded in 1933. Here are made the first astronomical studies. There was an Earth's artificial satellites observation station, that was the only one in the Caucasus during that period. The artificial satellite observation station operated until the USSR collapse.

Up to now the YSU Observatory and Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory serve as an educational and the scientific basis for the Chair.

The main directions of the scientific research of the Astrophysicists Group are:

the study of galaxies and stars with a new red-blue surplus found on plates

spectral-photometric and statistical study; *digitization of plates and detection of new objects.

The Chair prepare and give the Master degree in Astrophysics.

The Chair of Theoretical Physics of Yerevan State University was founded in 1951 by the Honored Scientist, Academician, Professor Gurgen Sahakyan. Since its establishment until 1985 the Chair has headed by G.S. Sahakyan, and then from 1985 until 2000 and from 2006 until 2013 by the Honoured Scientist, Academician of NAS RA, Professor Edvard Chubaryan. In 2000-2006 the Head of Chair was the Corresponding Member of the NAS RA, Professor Roland Avagyan and from 2013 the Head of the Chair is Professor Gohar Harutyunyan.

The Chair is staffed by lecturers with high academic qualification, including one Academician, two Associate Members of NAS RA, eleven Doctors of Sciences and five Candidates of Sciences.

The Chair of Theoretical Physics pronouns the following courses:
General courses for Bachelors: Classical Mechanics, Classical Electrodynamics, Selected Topics in Mathematics, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics.
Special Courses for Bachelors: Quantum Field Theory, Group Theory, Basics of Using Computers, Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Methods, Solving of Applied Problems on Computers, Programming and Programming Languages, Parallel Programming.
Master’s Degree Courses: Theories of Gravity and their Astrophysical Applications, Qualitative Analysis of Dynamical Systems,, Weak Interactions, Strong Interactions, Theory of Nuclear Reactors, Cosmology of the Early Universe, Phase Transitions, Quantum Electrodynamics, Physics of Superdense Celestial Bodies, String and Brane Theory, Plasma Physics, Theoretical and Experimental Basis of Radiation Physics, Quantum Information Technologies, Information Technologies in Professional Studies, Physical Foundations of Informatics, Actual Problems of Profession.

Along with the educational process in the two laboratories at the Chair: “Base Scientific Research Laboratory of the Chair of Theoretical Physics” and “Scientific Research Laboratory of Theoretical Investigation of Shell Forming” a number of research projects are carried out. The main areas of the scientific research include: Theories of Gravity and Their Astronomical and Cosmological Applications (E.V. Chubaryan, R.M. Avagyan, A.A. Saharian, G.H. Harutyunyan, A.V. Hovsepyan, L.Sh. Grigoryan); Physics of Superdense Stars (E.V. Chubaryan, R.M. Avagyan, G.H. Harutyunyan, L.Sh. Grigoryan, K.M. Shahabasyan); Radiation Physics, Plasma Physics (A.A. Saharian, B.V. Khachatryan, R.G. Petrosyan, A.S. Kotanjyan); Laser Physics and Quantum Technologies (G.Y. Kryuchkyan); Nuclear Physics (A.V. Hovsepyan); Quark Matter Superconductivity (K.M. Shahabasyan); Quantum Vacuum Effects in External Fields (gravitational, electromagnetic) and Their Applications in Cosmology (A.A. Saharian, A.S. Kotanjyan); Integrable Systems in Classical and Quantum Mechanics, Integrable Spin Systems, Two Dimensional Field and Strings Theories (A.P. Nersesian, T.S. Hakobyan, V.R. Ohanyan, G.A. Sarkissian); High Energy Electromagnetic Processes in Crystals (A.A. Saharian, A.S. Kotanjyan, B.V. Khachatryan, L.Sh. Grigoryan).

The Chair of Theoretical Physics is among the founders and coordinators of the scientific direction of Physics of Superdense Stars in the former Soviet Union.

The Chair was the Organizer of the All Union Conferences: “Gravity and Theory of Relativity” in 1972 and 1988. Recent years (2008, 2013, 2015) by the Chair has organized the International Conference "The Modern Physics of Compact Stars and Relativistic Gravity", which is expected to make periodic.

The Chair is in scientific collaboration with several leading universities and research centres.
The President of Republic of Armenia Prize in Physics was awarded to the members of the chair of Theoretical Physics four times (2001, 2004, 2010, 2011).

The founder (1956) and first head of the chair was prof. Norayr Kocharyan. From 2000 until now the head of the Chair of Solid State Physics is NAS RA corresponding member, prof. Albert Kirakosyan.

In undergraduate and graduate studies of the Chair of Solid State Physics the following courses are thought: Crystalophysics, X-ray physics, Crystallography, Physics of metals, Introduction to semiconductor physics, Solid state quantum theory, Physics of magnetic phenomena, X-ray structural and spectroscopy analysis, Kinetic phenomena in solids, Physics of electronic nanostructures, Optical phenomena in solids, Physics of real crystals, Elementary excitations in condensed matter, Quantum theory of the magnetism, Fundamentals of solid-state electronics, X-ray defectoscopy of solids, Application of group theory in solid state physics, Material Science, Computer Methods in Condensed Matter Physics, Dynamic theory of X-ray scattering. These courses create sufficient basis for successfully implementing fundamental and applied researches in various spheres of solid state physics, including in the sphere of nanoelectronics and spintronics.

The teaching process and scientific researches in the Chair of Solid State Physics are carried out in close cooperation with research centres and universities of different countries (Japan, France, Russia, Germany, Canada, Belgium, Cyprus, Iran, Mexico, Chile, Colombia).

The entire information on the achievements and provided opportunities of the Chair and Research Laboratory of Solid State Physics you can find here:

The optics chair was based in 1964. From 1964 to 1967 the head of the chair was V.M. Aslanian. From 1967 to 1972 head of the chair was M.E. Movsesian. From 1972 to 2007 the head of the chair was the academician of academy NA of RA, Dr. of Phys. Math. Sc., Professor Yu.S. Chilingaryan. From 2007 to 2012 the head of the chair was the Dr. of Phys. Math. Sc., Professor R.S. Hakobyan. From 2012 up to date the head of the chair is Dr. of Phys. Math. Sc., Professor A.B. Alaverdyan (Allahverdyan).

At the moment four Doctors of Sciences, 8 PhD work in the optics chair. The chair carries out lectures on the section “Physics of optical phenomena” of general physics in the departments of physics and radiophysics, as well as on subjects “Introduction to nonlinear physics”, “Automation of physical experiment”, “Mathematical modeling and numerical methods” in physics department and “The concepts in the modern natural sciences” in departments of sociology and philology. Most of the special courses on the specializations “Laser physics” and “Applied physics” are provided by optics chair.

At the moment many graduate students of different years are full-time professors in the optics chair. Some of graduate students now work in well-known scientific centers of Japan, USA, Canada, Germany, France, Russia and other countries.

Six doctoral and more than twenty PhD dissertations were prepared and defended in the chair.

It is noteworthy that in 1978 the chair organized the first All-Union scientific seminar on “Laser interaction with liquid crystals. The chair was one of organizers of the “Coherent and nonlinear optics” international conference holding in Yerevan in 1982. In 1999 the chair has organized an international school devoted to the problems of stochastic phenomena and nonlinear optics which was made regular. The chair was one of organizers of the first international pan-Armenian physician’s congress holding in Yerevan in 2005 and “Optics of liquid crystals” (OLC-11) international conference in 2011:

In 1972 in the chair the Optoelectronics Research Laboratory was founded, the scientific supervisor of which since the data of establishment is professor Yu. S. Chilingaryan. The laboratory activities include the investigation of physical properties of super-pure optical materials, fiber optical switching and gauges as well as liquid crystals.

At present 4 scientific projects and two international grants (on NATO and ECO-NET programs) are carried out in the chair.

Since 1974 up to date the chair carries out research on the main problems of nonlinear optics, nonlinear physics, opto-electronics and material science. In recent 15 years the light-induced hydrodynamics and thermomechanics have also been actively developed.
At the middle of 70’s in the chair a number of fundamental investigations were carried out on nonlinear properties of statistically ordered media (among those also liquid crystals’). It must be mentioned, that these investigations served as premise for observation of strong nonlinearities, for rapid development of that branch, as well as for creation of strong schools, at first in Moscow and then in many other countries of the world.

The study of photo-hydrodynamical phenomena made possible to reveal nonlinearities due to hydrodynamic fluxes of liquid crystals that are about two orders of magnitude larger than the well known orientational nonlinearities. A number of orientational, hydrodynamical and photo-hydrodynamical phenomena in LC and qiral photonic structures (including doped with nanoparticles) have already been studied theoretically and experimentally that have rare importance both in physics of statistically ordered media and in problems of laser-matter interactions.

Thus, at the middle of 80’s liquid crystal optics was already well established branch, and optics chair – one of the acknowledged centers in the world. The fact that the first monograph in the world (S.M.Arakelyan, Yu.S.Chilingaryan, “Nonlinear optics of liquid crystals”, Moscow, “Nauka” publishers, 1984, p.38) on those subjects was written in the chair testify to this. A great deal of above mentioned works have been summarized in the monograph of R.S.Hakobyan and Yu.S.Chilingaryan (“Induced phase transitions and hydrodynamic instabilities in liquid crystals”, Yerevan, “Mankavarzh” publishers, 2000, p.185).
The many-sided investigations of acousto-hydrodynamical phenomena enabled to reveal a possibility of a very important application of these phenomena in liquid crystalline seismometers.

From the main results of 80’s in the branch of opto-electronics and material science the following investigation is especially noteworthy: a) revelation of new methods on the synthesis of super-pure multi-component optical materials and study of the composition structure of these materials. Loses in these glasses were reduced as far as 60 db/cm which was the best result in the Soviet Union.

Studies were carried out also on the design of optical gradient elements. Stable (relative to radiation) optical materials were obtained under the high frequency field by the heating method. Investigations on the synthesis of transparent glasses on infrared range were carried out as well.

Optical super-sensitive gauges were designed on the basis of two-kernel fibers. Working patterns of optical switching systems on fiber wave-guides were processed and designed in the chair.

Combination of polistor-electronies with optical bearer of input & output information made possible to create closed and full elementary basis for multi-value computers.

More than 300 scientific papers on the bases of obtained results were published in highly esteemed international and domestic journals. Applied results are defended by more than 10 patents.

Some of the obtained results which have applied significance were exhibited on the people’s Armenian industry exhibition in 80’s.

Since 70’s the chair closely cooperated with the chairs of general physics and wave processes of the physics department of MSU, the Institutes of Physics and General Physics of AS of USSR (Moscow), the State Optics Institute (St. Petersburg).

At present the Optics chair closely cooperates with a number of acknowledged scientific centers such as the Laboratory of statistic physics of the Ecole Normal Superior of Paris; the laboratory of physics of Ecole Normal Superior; of Lyon; the National Institute of Optics of Florence; Institute of Applied Physics, Darmstate, Germany; University of Central Florida; Laval University in Quebec, Canada; the MSU International Laser Center.

The Department of Molecular Physics (before 1992 Department of Molecular Physics and Biophysics) was formed in the Physical Department of YSU at 1967 owing to the efforts of doctor of phys-math sci., professor. Vilen.M.Aslanian, who was a disciple of Leningrad School of Physics of Macromolecules (M.V.Volkenstein). It also has predetermined the main scientific direction of the Department - research of structure of synthetic and biological (DNA, RNA, proteins, membranes) macromolecules - which is kept to this day. After V.M.Aslanyan's death in 1989 his disciples basically supervise the Department: the doctor of phys-math sci., prof. Samvel Haroutiunian (1994-2000), the doctor of phys-math sci., prof. Vladimir Morozov (2000-2005), the Yeva Dalyan (from 2006 up to now). And short period (1992-1993г) the Department supervised by doctor of phys-math sci., prof. Sergey Arakelyan (YSU, Department of Optics).

The main research directions are:
• experimental and theoretical study of conformational changes in the molecules of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) at the interaction with ligands. As a ligands was used: metal ions, Pt(II)- and Ru(III)-containing potentially anticancer drugs, antibiotics and porphyrins and metalloporphyrins.
• investigation of UV and gamma - radiation effect on the structure of biological and synthetic macromolecules.
• experimental investigation of hydrodynamic behavior of polymer solutions.
• theoretical investigation of correlation between chemical and spatial structures of biopolymers and their functions.

Development of order-disorder transition theory in biopolymers.
• adsorption of ligands on the biological and synthetic membranes.

Theses
Since 2000 in the Department have been defended 4 Doctoral (Vigen Barkhudaryan,
Yeva Dalyan, Volodya Vardanyan, Yevgeni Mamasakhlisov) and 7 PhD [Gagik Potikyan (supervisor V. Arakelyan), Arsen Grigoryan (supervisor V.Morozov), Artem Badasyan (supervisor V.Morozov), Ara Ghazaryan (supervisor S.Haroutiunian), Hakob Arakelyan (supervisor S.Haroutiunian), Gayane Ananyan (supervisor Y.Dalyan), Lusine Aloyan (supervisor Y.Dalyan) ] theses.

Collaborations
• USA
University of Portland (prof. A.S. Benight)
Georgia Institute of Technology (Prof.R.Wartell)
University of Boston (prof.M.Frank-Kamenetskii)
National Institute of Health, NIH (prof. A.Parsegian)
• .Canada
University of Toronto (prof.T.Chalikian)
• Italy
University of Florence (prof. P.Orioli, prof. L.Messori)
• Taiwan
University of Taipei (prof. Chin-Kun Hu)
• Belarus
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry (prof.D.Lando)
• Russia
Moscow State University (prof.Yu.Nechipurenko)
S.Peterburg State University (prof.N.Kasianenko)
Institute of Molecular Biology (prof. V.Ivanov)
• Ukraina
Phisico-Thechnical institute of Low Temperature, Kharkov (prof. Yu.Blagoi)
Institute of Radiophysics and Electronics, Kharkov (prof. V.Maleev)
• Georgia
Institute of Physics, Tbilisi (prof. J.Monaselidze)

Department of Molecular Physics and University of Toronto was organized 2 international conferences
1. "Hydration and Molecular Recognition" (March 1-5, 2005, Tsakhkadzor).
2. "Solvation and Ionic Effects in Biomolecules: Theory to Experiment" (May 17-21, 2010, Tsakhkadzor)

Nuclear Physics Department of YSU was established in 1942 by academician of NAS RA, corresponding member of NAS USSR, professor Artem Isaak Alikhanian. Prominent scientists A. I. Alikhanov, A. B. Migdal, A. D. Landau, I. Ya. Pomeranchuk, P. L. Kapitsa, L. A. Artsimovich and others played an important role in standing of Nuclear Physics in Armenia and training of scientific personnel.

During the past years the Department was headed by:

1961 - 1969: L. M. Ter-Mikaelyan, Academician of NAS RA, Professor.

1969 - 1973: A. A. Vartapetyan, Academician of NAS RA, Professor.

1973 - 1975: Yu. L.Vartanyan Yu. L., Professor, Doctor of Phys-Math Sciences

1975 - 2002: A. A. Khudaverdyan, Professor, Doctor of Phys-Math Sciences

2002 - 2005: A. S. Danagulyan, Professor, Doctor of Phys-Math Sciences

2007-2013: V. M. Tsakanov, Professor, Doctor of Phys-Math Sciences

From 2013 up to date the head of the chair is Doctor of Phys-Math Sciences A.R. Balabekyan

The main directions of the department activity and teaching programs have been closely related to the High Energy Physics development in Armenia:

Cosmic ray physics.

Charged particles radiation in medium.

Nuclear and elementary particle physics.

Experimental investigations in photoproduction and electro production processes.

Experimental methods and data analysis.

Accelerator physics and technique.

Nuclear Power Plants.

Applied nuclear physics.

At present these directions remain in the focus of the Department activity and teaching process taking into account the current developments in nuclear physics worldwide. Active participation of Armenian scientists in international collaborations on high energy physics, the development of third generation light source CANDLE in Armenia and the highlights for the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Armenia define the level and the educational programs for students in Bachelor and Master courses of the department.

The main institutions where the department students conduct the diploma work and take practical courses are

Yerevan Physics Institute after A. I. Alikhanyan

The CANDLE Synchrotron Radiation Center, Research Institute of YSU,

Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.

The Department is involved in international collaborations with:

Joined Institute of Nuclear Researches (JINR, Russia)

Deutsches Electronen Synchrotron (DESY, Germany)

European Centre of Nuclear Researches (CERN, Switzerland))

Jefferson Laboratory ( JLAB, USA)

Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI, Switzerland)

Institute of Physics - University of São Paulo, Brazil

STAR-NET network for Education in Nuclear physics, Austria.

The courses and diploma terms at the Department are being renewed annually according to modern developments in nuclear physics.

1. Research Laboratory of Solid State Physics
Staff:
Albert A. Kirakosyan
Valeri S. Harutyunyan
Samvel G. Gevorgyan
Levon V. Levonyan
Hayk A. Sargsyan
Laura G. Gasparyan
Ashot P. Aivazyan
Levon A. Haroutunyan
Minas K. Balyan
Hasmik M. Manukyan
Anahit P. Zotyan
Artak A. Avetisyan
Tigran H. Eyramjyan
Shushanik G. Gasparyan
Manuk G. Barseghyan
Mkrtich A. Eranosyan
Aram Kh. Manaselyan
Norayr P. Harutyunyan
Vram N. Mughnetsyan
Vardan S. evorgyan
Serob T. Muradyan
Vahram P. Mkrtchyan/a>
Martin S. Sakanyan
Lyudvig A. Vardanyan
Bilor K. Kurghinyan
Kolya T. Avetyan
Tamara S. Mnatsakanyan
Karen A. Vardanyan
Hovhannes S. Semerjyan
Garnik A. Vermishyan


2.Linear and Nonlinear Approximations and their Application Laboratory
Staff:
Martin G. Grigoryan
Sergo A. Episkoposyan
Levon N. Galoyan
Artur Kh. Kobelyan
Tigran M. Grigoryan
Razmik G. Meliqbekyan
Lusine S. Simonyan

3. Laboratory of Ultrafast Optics and Photonics
Staff:
Aghavni A. Kutuzyan
Ishkhan G. Harutyunyan
Meri A. Qalashian
Goharik H. Margaryan
Hrach A. Toneyan
Minas M. Sukiasyan

4. Quantum Phenomena Research and Modeling Laboratory
Staff:
Atom Zh. Muradyan
David M. Sedrakyan
David H. Badalyan
Gevorg A. Muradya
Mekhak V. Hayrapetyan
Petik G. Petrosyan
Lyova N. Grigoryan

5. Laboratory of Theoretical Physics
Staff:
Aram A. Saharyan
Edward V. Chubaryan
Ernest A. Nazaryan
Mileta M. Arakelyan
Roland M. Avagyan
Gohar H. Harutunyan
Armen-P-Nersisyan
Tigran S. Hakobyan
Anna S. Kotanjyan
Rubik G. Petrosyan
Gor A. Sarkissian
Vadim R. Ohanya
Hayk G. Sargsyan
Davit H. Simonyan
Alla L. Novikova

6. Laboratory of «Physics of macromolecules» of Department of Molecular Physics
Staff:
Samvel G. Haroutiunian
Yeva B. Dalyan
Valeri B. Arakelyan
Vigen G. Barkhudaryan
Vladimir F. Morozov
Evgeny Sh. Mamasakhlinov
Nelli H. Karapetyan
Lusine R. Aloyan
Zaven E. Navoyan
Ishkhan V. Vardanyan
Ruzanna S. Ghazaryan
Shushanik A. Tonoyan
Karine K. Karamyan
Harutyun B. Vardanyan
Miqayel K. Poghosyan
Ani A. Avetisyan
Alla K. Sinyakovskaya
Hasmik B. Boyajyan

7. Scientific-research laboratory for Optoelectronics and photonics
Staff:
Rafik S. Hakobyan
Roman B. Allahverdya
Hamlet S. Karayan
Levon-S-Aslanyan
Gevorg S. Gevorgyan
Aleksandr D. Chilingaryan
Vachagan L. Elbakyan
Arthur-A-Kirakossian
Hermine S. Gharagulyan
Samvel C. Nersisyan
Ashot A. Vardanyan
Naira S. Sahakyan
Nuneh F. Vardanyan
Zhirayr-V-Ninoyan