The Alabama particle theory group looks out on the universe from Gallalee Hall on the campus of the University of Alabama. For those of you who aren't quite sure where Alabama is, we have the same longitude as Indiana and lie on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf region is a fabulous land filled with exotic wildlife. The University is the home of Bear Bryant and the Crimson Tide.

We also have an illustrious tradition in physics and astronomy. One of our early faculty members was F.A.P. Barnard after whom Barnard's star and Barnard College were named. The University of Alabama is the Alma Mater of Robert J. Van de Graaff, inventor of the first accelerator providing intense particle beams of precisely controllable energy and one of the pioneers of particle physics. Our graduate program in physics was begun by Arthur Ruark, author with Harold Urey of one of the early standard references in quantum physics and later head of the controlled fusion division at the Atomic Energy Commission.

Our department is emerging from a period after Ruark left in 1956 in which our rank was adversely affected by poor leadership and in which some of the top schools sent agents to try to keep us on the bottom. The state of Alabama is plagued by massive duplication in its physics effort. We have five state supported PhD programs all concentrating primarily on physics at the atomic scale and above. Nevertheless, in a significant departure from its sister institutions, the University of Alabama doubled its effort in subatomic physics in the late eighties and in the latest National Research Council ratings we ranked third in the nation in fractional increase in perceived quality. (To see the top ten click here). This remarkable achievement has raised the hope that Physics at Alabama can continue to increase its national and international visibility. For some discussion of the National Research Council rankings click here. For a more quantitative analysis of what it takes to become a top rated physics department click here.