○History of  Institute

This OMEG Institute started as an on-campus research institute frome the second half of 2005. 

It is a university-affilated research institute specialized in origin of matter research. In 2015, Professor Kim Chang-bae as the first head of institute.  Poffesro Lee Tae-hoon (2016) , the secound director of the research institute, and Professor Chun Myung-Ki has been the head of the research institute since 2017.

As a university – affilated research institute that leads the study of the origin of matter in Korea, this research institute estabilishes a research base in the university, and strives to cultivate various rising research personnel through characterizing and specialization of the research center.

○Purpose of establishment

(1) Origin of Matter Study

The institute was established with the purpose of studying the origin of matter and the interactions between them, including leptons, heavy particles, superconducting and superfluid, plasma, compact object, and dark matter. At the same time, through these matter research, this institute pursues the development of convergence studies in various basic physical fields such as nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics, plasma physics, statistical physics, and condensed matter physics.

(2) Target-oriented Convergence Study

A major challenge in physics recently is the study of the origin and structure of matter that make up planets, galaxies, and the universe. These studies are typical examples of Target-oriented convergence research that is carried out based on the results of each research, such as particle physics, plasma physics, astrophysics, condensed matter physics, and nuclear physics, which are individual fields. The origin of the elements constituting our body is generated through thermonuclear reactions that occur within the evolutionary process of stars in the universe. Research is conducted based on intensive achievements in each field of modern physics. This research institute is a new type of research institute that conducts multifaceted research on the origin of matter by fusion of individual research from the department of physics.

(3) Becoming a collaborative research hub with large research facilities

Nowadays, the establishment of various research centers and facilities will be able to pioneer the field of basic science and physics. Typically, the next-generation heavy-ion accelerator (RAON), the largest scientific facility in the Republic of Korea, has a purpose what is a nuclear reaction in the universe for ‘The Origin of elements and Evolution of the Universe.’ It makes the biggest opportunity for Korean researchers, and it indicates the one of responsibility of ‘Key Research Institutes in Universities’. Therefore, this OMEG institute aims at collaborating with scientific research facilities and at manpower training.

(4) Nurturing excellent Research Manpower

Currently, the Department of Physics at the affiliated university has sufficient research manpower for this convergence research in addition to 14 full-time professors. As a research manpower, three core research professors have already been secured, and there will be a vacancy due to the discharge of research manpower in 2021, and three core researchers will be selected. In addition, it has many domestic and foreign collaborators, which clearly demonstrates the purpose of this institute to foster excellent research manpower.