# Physics Lab

**URL:** <https://network.greenyourlab.org/t/physics-lab/709>\
**Category:** Specialty Labs\
**Created:** [September 17, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://network.greenyourlab.org/t/physics-lab/709 "2021-09-17T21:40:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GreenYourLab](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/network.greenyourlab.org/greenyourlab/32/517_2.png) [@GreenYourLab](https://network.greenyourlab.org/u/GreenYourLab)\
**Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://network.greenyourlab.org/t/physics-lab/709/1 "2021-09-17T21:40:59Z")

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There are two major branches in the field of physics: Theoretical and experimental physics.  
The work utensils of theoretical physicists are mostly paper, pen, tablets and computer clusters while the daily live of experimental physicists can look very differently. For example, solid state or polymer physicists have labs that share many similarities with chemistry labs. On the other hand high-energy physicists may use particle accelerator devices to conduct their experiments.

For this reason both fields will be treated separately in the following.

# Theoretical physics

Central sustainability aspect in theoretical physics “labs” are electronic computation processes which involve questions of computer cluster cooling, power consumption and recycling. A more detailed discussion on this issue can be found in the section for [bioinformatics](https://network.greenyourlab.org/t/bioinformatics-computer-labs-servers/127) and the [office area](https://network.greenyourlab.org/t/office-area/123).

## Computer cluster cooling

Large computer clusters need to be cooled and there are ways to use the heat of the computing units in an efficient way by coupling it to the heating of your institute building.

## Power consumption

Large scale computations can run for several days, weeks or months. It would be therefore important to raise attention to the related greenhouse gas emissions. Such emissions can be reduced by performance optimizations.

## Recycling

# Experimental physics

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