Physics PhDs - Overwhelmed by choices

[NoodleUK]

Hi all, first post!

I have a BSc and recently finished an MSc in physics in the UK. Both were unspecialised and despite being fascinated by lots of fields, I have never settled on one area.

At the end of my MSc, my supervisor said I "really suited a PhD" and I was offered a project with a professor. Unfortunately after asking around the department, I was warned that the supervisor has serious people issues and after a horror story from their current PhD student I declined the offer. I still feel the lust to learn 'more' about the world and can see myself enjoying a long term project; but without an area - even a field - I'm finding it impossible to narrow down my search. Applying for PhDs requires very specific passions!

As an example, though thoroughly fascinated with cosmology and general relativity, I cannot see myself going into a career in academia and so a PhD in theoretical areas is unlikely. So, I consider myself a practical physicist (Isn't that an engineer? :P) However I find a lot of engineering research to be incremental and tedious. In an ideal world, I want to work on a forefront that has real potential - in the world at large. That's the dream at least.

I have considered solar energy, power networks, quantum computing, nuclear magnetic resonance applications, fusion powerplants, and a whole melting pot of other projects I've seen.

I suppose what I am asking is whether anyone else finds/found themselves without a speciality, and how they concentrate their passion into one area? A second question would be if anyone feels like I do, what emerging areas do you think have a lot of potential?

 

[Dr Lots-o'watts]

If you have really made your choice on going further, I have to root for my field and vote that you study lasers. Since you're in the U.K. check out this project: http://www.hiperlaser.org/.

 

[Kevin_Axion]

Condensed Matter Physics, although it is a very broad subject, is an active area of research that has potential for future applications in ideas such as superconductivity, nanotechnology, topological insulators etc. You should do more research into this subject area and also Quantum Optics. Inertial confinement fusion also incorporates lasers and fusion.