Theory of Quantum Matter Unit (Nic Shannon)
Theory of Quantum MatterThis is particularly true if you put a large number of quantum particles in the same place - for example Helium atoms condensed into a liquid, electrons deep inside metal oxides, or cold atoms in an optical trap.
In all of these cases, the assembled particles write their own, local, laws of physics, through the way in which they interact with one another. The consequences are dramatic, and include the superfluidity of liquid Helium, the magnetism and superconductivity of electrons in oxides, and quantum coherent Bose condensates found in cold atoms.
The Theory of Quantum Matter group uses a wide range of numerical and analytic techniques to explore these phenomena. Our goal is to develop new theoretical approaches to quantum matter, and to guide the discovery of new quantum phases. To this end, we work closely with experimental physicists, and chemists developing new quantum materials.
Interests represented in the group include the behaviour of quantum magnets; topological aspects of quantum matter; statistical mechanics; multferroics; the theoretical understanding of water; the application of machine learning to problems in many-body physics and, of late, quantum computing.
Much of our recent research has focused on frustrated magnets - systems torn between one choice and another. The way in which these materials resolve their difficulties has proved a constant source of beautiful, and unexpected, new ideas.
You can read more about this work in our Annual Reports, as well as in the papers listed on our Publications page.
Selected Recent Publications"Rank-2 U(1) spin liquid on the breathing pyrochlore lattice" "Identification of emergent constraints and hidden order in frustrated magnets using tensorial kernel methods of machine learning" "Negative thermal expansion in the plateau state of a magnetically-frustrated spinel" "Quantum spin ice with frustrated transverse exchange: from pi-flux phase to nematic quantum spin liquid" "Experimental signatures of emergent quantum electrodynamics in a quantum spin ice" |