PHYSICS DEPARTMENT

The Physics Department of Ecole Polytechnique includes both Teaching and Research. On the one hand, it takes in charge many teaching duties, both for the élèves de l'Ecole Polytechnique, and for the students of the Master Programs. On the other hand, it federates ten laboratories, covering a rich spectrum of researches at the frontiers of physics. The Physics Department is also strongly involved in current developments of the Saclay Plateau, which correspond to 5 Thematic Poles of the Department.

Presentation

The teaching, such as courses, tutoring in small classes, experimental training, is taken in charge by confirmed scientists, with an established international reputation in their domains. The students are thus in direct contact with worldwide experts, who can answer questions going well beyond the immediate technical content of the courses. This practice differs significantly from many other places, where undergraduate courses are often given by young teachers, or teaching assistants.

News and Events

Two outstanding awards for members of the department

The Plasma Physics Laboratory (LPP) is in the spotlight with two distinctions awarded to members of the department.

Lina Hadid awarded the 2026 SF2A Early Career Researcher Prize

Lina Hadid, CNRS Research Scientist, has received the 2026 Early Career Researcher Prize awarded by the French Society of Astronomy and Astrophysics (SF2A) (https://sf2a.eu/website2023/).

This distinction recognizes Lina’s work on space plasmas, particularly in planetary science, as well as her strong involvement as Principal Investigator (PI) of instruments (plasma spectrometers) developed at LPP and flown on international space missions led by ESA and JAXA.

👉 More information: https://sf2a.eu/website2023/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Texte_prix_JC_2026.pdf

Alejandro Alvarez-Laguna awarded the CNRS Bronze Medal

Alejandro Alvarez-Laguna, also a CNRS Research Scientist, has been awarded the CNRS Bronze Medal.

His research at LPP focuses on theoretical approaches and numerical simulations applied to space propulsion. It is also part of the COMHET joint laboratory, in partnership with Safran, dedicated to electric propulsion.

👉 More information: https://www.insis.cnrs.fr/fr/cnrsinfo/portrait-dalejandro-alvarez-laguna-medaille-de-bronze-du-cnrs-2026

See our organization chart

Access and contact

Mailing address

Département Enseignement-Recherche de Physique
Ecole Polytechnique
91128 Palaiseau
Bâtiment 5

The Secretariat is located on the 2nd floor
Room 05.30.78 « Département de Physique »

Main department contacts:

Chair of the Physics Department:
Laurent Sanchez-Palencia laurent.sanchez-palencia@polytechnique.edu

Secretariat:

Sylvie Pottier : sylvie.pottier@polytechnique.edu

Jessy Verin : jessy.verin@polytechnique.edu

Jean Souphanplixa : jean.souphanplixa@polytechnique.edu

Physics laboratories

Liste des cours par filière