Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

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Classification Structure - Division 240000 - Physical Sciences

	Discipline	Subject	Description
	240100		Astronomical Sciences.
		240101	Astronomy and Astrophysics
		240102	Cosmic Ray Physics
		240199	Astronomical Sciences not elsewhere classified
	240200		Theoretical and Condensed Matter Physics
		240201	Theoretical Physics
		240202	Condensed Matter Physics - Structural Properties
		240203	Condensed Matter Physics - Electronic and Magnetic Properties; Superconductivity
		240204	Condensed Matter Physics - Other
	240300		Atomic and Molecular Physics; Nuclear and Particle Physics; Plasma Physics
		240301	Atomic and Molecular Physics
		240302	Nuclear and Particle Physics
		240303	Plasmas and Electrical Discharges
		240304	Other Plasma Physics
	240400		Optical Physics
		240401	Optics and Opto-electronic Physics
		240402	.Quantum Optics and Lasers
		240499	Optical Physics not elsewhere classified
	240500		Classical Physics
		240501	Acoustics and Acoustical Devices; Waves
		240502	Fluid Physics
		240503	Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
		240504	Electrostatics and Electrodynamics
		240599	Classical Physics not elsewhere classified
	249900		Other Physical Sciences
		249901	Biophysics
		249902	Medical Physics
		249903	Instruments and Techniques
		249999	Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified

Definitions

Division 240000 - Physical Sciences, covers the physical sciences. It includes biophysics (other than human biophysics) and medical physics. This division has six disciplines:

240100 - Astronomical Sciences
240200 - Theoretical and Condensed Matter Physics
240300 - Atomic and Molecular Physics; Nuclear and Particle Physics; Plasma Physics
240400 - Optical Physics
240500 - Classical Physics
249900 - Other Physical Sciences

Exclusions:


(a) Geophysics is included in Discipline 260200 Geophysics;

(b) ionospheric and magnetospheric physics are included in Discipline 260600 Atmospheric Sciences;

(c) technological aspects of the physical sciences are included in the appropriate disciplines in Division 290000 Engineering and Technology;

(d) soil physics is included in Discipline 300100 Soil and Water Sciences; and

(e) human biophysics is included in Discipline 320600 Medical Physiology.

Discipline 240100 - Astronomical Sciences

This discipline covers astronomical sciences, including cosmology. This discipline has three subjects:

240101 - Astronomy and Astrophysics
240102 - Cosmic Ray Physics
240199 - Astronomical Sciences not elsewhere classified

Exclusions:


Remote sensing and satellite technology are included in Discipline 290200 Aerospace Engineering.

Discipline 240200 - Theoretical and Condensed Matter Physics

This discipline covers theoretical and condensed matter physics. This discipline has four subjects:

240201 - Theoretical Physics
240202 - Condensed Matter Physics - Structural Properties
240203 - Condensed Matter Physics - Electronic and Magnetic Properties; Superconductivity
240204 - Condensed Matter Physics - Other

Discipline 240300 - Atomic and Molecular Physics; Nuclear and Particle Physics; Plasma Physics

This discipline covers atomic, molecular, nuclear, particle and plasma physics. This discipline has four subjects:

240301 - Atomic and Molecular Physics
240302 - Nuclear and Particle Physics
240303 - Plasmas and Electrical Discharges
240304 - Other Plasma Physics

Exclusions:


Related chemicals are included in Disciplines 250100 Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural) and 250600 Theoretical and Computational Chemistry.

Discipline 240400 - Optical Physics

This discipline covers optical physics. This discipline has three subjects:

240401 - Optics and Opto-electronic Physics
240402 - Quantum Optics and Lasers
240499 - Optical Physics not elsewhere classified

Exclusions:


Communications technologies are included in Discipline 291700 Communications Technologies.

Discipline 240500 - Classical Physics

This discipline covers classical physics. This discipline has five subjects:

240501 - Acoustics and Acoustical Devices; Waves
240502 - Fluid Physics
240503 - Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
240504 - Electrostatics and Electrodynamics
240599 - Classical Physics not elsewhere classified

Exclusions:


Communications technologies are included in Discipline 291700 Communications Technologies.

Discipline 249900 - Other Physical Sciences

This discipline covers any physical sciences not elsewhere classified. It includes biophysics (other than human biophysics), medical physics and instruments and techniques. This discipline has four subjects:

249901 - Biophysics
249902 - Medical Physics
249903 - Instruments and Techniques
249999 - Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified

Exclusions:


(a) Geophysics is included in Discipline 260200 Geophysics;

(b) ionospheric and magnetospheric physics are included in Discipline 260600 Atmospheric Sciences;

(c) technological aspects of the physical sciences are included in the appropriate disciplines in Division 290000 Engineering and Technology;

(d) soil physics is included in Discipline 300100 Soil and Water Sciences; and

(e) human biophysics is included in Discipline 320600 Medical Physiology