Cambridge Condensed Matter Theory Programme Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
As theoreticians, we construct models of physical and chemical processes that are generally inspired by experimental discoveries, we generalise these models and their solutions to make predictions for new experiments, and we transfer the concepts and theoretical tools which emerge from the solution of these models to other areas of research, in a concerted interdisciplinary effort. In short, the role of theory is to understand known phenomena observed in the laboratory or in everyday life, and to predict new physical processes and phenomena.Our theoretical research is both about making calculations, to quantitatively understand and predict the behaviour of matter, but also about making models to illuminate the landscape of emergent behaviour in physics, chemistry, material science, and biology. The role of theory includes both fundamental knowledge creation and practical applications of modelling for new and existing technology. The applications of our activity are as various as ultracold atoms, semiconductor devices and DNA assembly.Starting from first principles on the microscopic level (as embodied in the Schrdinger equation) electronic, mechanical and structural properties of molecules and materials can now be calculated with a remarkable degree of accuracy. We work on developing and refining new computational tools and applying them to a broad spectrum of fundamental and applied problems in physics, chemistry, materials science and biology.Solids and fluids often show unusual collective behaviour resulting from cooperative quantum or classical phenomena. For such phenomena a more model-based approach is often appropriate, and we are using such methods to attack problems in magnetism, superfluidity, nonlinear optics, mesoscopic systems, complex fluids and solids, andbio-polymers. Collective behaviour comes even more to the fore in systems on a larger scale. As examples, we work on self-organising structures in soft condensed matter systems, non-linear dynamics of interacting systems, and models of biophysical processes, all of which bridge the gap between molecular and mesoscopic scales.
Organisations
Publications
Vukovic S
(2016)
Exploring the role of water in molecular recognition: predicting protein ligandability using a combinatorial search of surface hydration sites.
in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal
Needs R
(2008)
The quantum Monte Carlo method-electron correlation from random numbers (abstract only).
in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal
Badinski A
(2010)
Methods for calculating forces within quantum Monte Carlo simulations.
in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal
Weerasinghe GL
(2015)
Computational searches for iron oxides at high pressures.
in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal
Mujica A
(2017)
New tetrahedral polymorphs of the group-14 elements
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Wójs A
(2011)
Search for non-Abelian statistics in half-filled Landau levels of graphene
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
De Gortari I
(2010)
Time averaging of NMR chemical shifts in the MLF peptide in the solid state.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Fortes A
(2009)
Crystal Structure of Ammonia Monohydrate Phase II
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Biggins J
(2012)
Elasticity of polydomain liquid crystal elastomers
in Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
Klein AM
(2011)
Patterning as a signature of human epidermal stem cell regulation.
in Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
Corbett D
(2009)
Changing liquid crystal elastomer ordering with light - a route to opto-mechanically responsive materials
in Liquid Crystals
Blundell J
(2009)
Stretching Semiflexible Filaments and Their Networks
in Macromolecules
Lappala A
(2015)
Arrested Spinodal Decomposition in Polymer Brush Collapsing in Poor Solvent
in Macromolecules
Meng F
(2016)
Stress Relaxation, Dynamics, and Plasticity of Transient Polymer Networks
in Macromolecules
Meng F
(2018)
Fluidization of Transient Filament Networks
in Macromolecules
Evans LD
(2013)
A chain mechanism for flagellum growth.
in Nature
Pickard CJ
(2014)
High-pressure physics: Piling on the pressure.
in Nature
Driessens G
(2012)
Defining the mode of tumour growth by clonal analysis.
in Nature
Mascré G
(2012)
Distinct contribution of stem and progenitor cells to epidermal maintenance.
in Nature
Sánchez-Danés A
(2016)
Defining the clonal dynamics leading to mouse skin tumour initiation.
in Nature
Frede J
(2016)
A single dividing cell population with imbalanced fate drives oesophageal tumour growth.
in Nature cell biology
Drummond ND
(2015)
Quantum Monte Carlo study of the phase diagram of solid molecular hydrogen at extreme pressures.
in Nature communications
Chen J
(2013)
Quantum simulation of low-temperature metallic liquid hydrogen.
in Nature communications
Engel EA
(2018)
Mapping uncharted territory in ice from zeolite networks to ice structures.
in Nature communications
Pickard CJ
(2008)
Highly compressed ammonia forms an ionic crystal.
in Nature materials
Pickard CJ
(2010)
Aluminium at terapascal pressures.
in Nature materials
He J
(2012)
How variable clones build an invariant retina.
in Neuron
Pickard C
(2009)
Structures at high pressure from random searching
in physica status solidi (b)
Foo D
(2018)
Cooperative mechanosensitivity and allostery of focal adhesion clusters
in Physical Biology
Totton TS
(2012)
A quantitative study of the clustering of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at high temperatures.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
Huggins DJ
(2012)
Application of inhomogeneous fluid solvation theory to model the distribution and thermodynamics of water molecules around biomolecules.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
Nelson JR
(2015)
Calcium peroxide from ambient to high pressures.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
Cole DJ
(2009)
Water structuring and collagen adsorption at hydrophilic and hydrophobic silicon surfaces.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
Bernstein N
(2012)
QM/MM simulation of liquid water with an adaptive quantum region.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
Yang Z
(2014)
Exact and approximate Kohn-Sham potentials in ensemble density-functional theory
in Physical Review A
Silver A
(2010)
Bose-Hubbard models coupled to cavity light fields
in Physical Review A
John S
(2011)
Spectroscopic method to measure the superfluid fraction of an ultracold atomic gas
in Physical Review A
Edge J
(2010)
Collective modes as a probe of imbalanced Fermi gases
in Physical Review A
Bhaseen M
(2012)
Discrete symmetry breaking transitions between paired superfluids
in Physical Review A
Möller G
(2010)
Condensed ground states of frustrated Bose-Hubbard models
in Physical Review A
Kwasigroch M
(2012)
Quantum fluctuations of vortex lattices in ultracold gases
in Physical Review A
Morris A
(2010)
Ultracold atoms at unitarity within quantum Monte Carlo methods
in Physical Review A
Bhaseen M
(2012)
Dynamics of nonequilibrium Dicke models
in Physical Review A
Bhaseen M
(2011)
Magnetic properties of the second Mott lobe in pairing Hamiltonians
in Physical Review A
Price H
(2011)
Skyrmion-antiskyrmion pairs in ultracold atomic gases
in Physical Review A
Lu Z
(2012)
Fermi liquid of two-dimensional polar molecules
in Physical Review A
Warner M
(2009)
Two-color nonlinear absorption of light in dye layers
in Physical Review A
Edge J
(2011)
Probing ultracold Fermi gases with light-induced gauge potentials
in Physical Review A
Price H
(2012)
Mapping the Berry curvature from semiclassical dynamics in optical lattices
in Physical Review A
Levinsen J
(2011)
Topological p x + ip y superfluid phase of fermionic polar molecules
in Physical Review A
Description | Condensed Matter is intrinsically complex. The term refers to systems of vast numbers of atoms placed so close together that the electrons may no longer be confined to a single atom and the atoms interact strongly together. Perhaps not surprisingly, condensed matter systems can exhibit a vast array of different physical, chemical and/or biological properties, often on many different lengthscales. We should also remember that the fundamental equations of physics can usually only be solved exactly |
Exploitation Route | In some cases, there are opportunities for commercial exploitation of the methods we develop, particularly those involving computer modelling, but more realistically it is the novel phenomena and the systems and/or materials that exhibit them that will offer opportunities for commercial exploitation. As explained above we interact with many communities of other academic researchers. |
Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Healthcare,Manufacturing/ including Industrial Biotechology |
URL | http://www.tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk/ |
Description | The Cambridge Theory of Condensed Matter Programme Grant was one of a long line of grants that provided long term flexible funding for the core activities of the research group. These grants have allowed us to be innovative, respond rapidly to research opportunities, take on long term riskier research and to support ongoing software development projects. The outcomes reported elsewhere give some indication of the impact of these grants which is clearly marked bymany metrics such as developing the research careers of out young researchers, awards and prizes to the PI and Co-Is and to software that is now sold commercially. |
First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
Sector | Chemicals,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
Title | CASTEP |
Description | A quantum mechanical atomistic simulation tool |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Impact | The software was originally licenced in 1994 but is continually upgraded and improved. It is sold commercially by Biovia (formerly Accelrys) with annual sales in excess of £1million and cumulative sales in excess of $30 |
URL | http://accelrys.com/products/materials-studio/quantum-and-catalysis-software.html |
Title | ONETEP |
Description | ONETEP is a linear scaling quantum mechanical atomistic simulation tool |
Type Of Technology | Software |
Impact | This software is continuously improved in terms of both functionality and speed. It has been sold commercially by Biovia (formerly Accelrys) since 2004 and now has commercial sales in excess of $4.5million |
URL | http://accelrys.com/products/materials-studio/quantum-and-catalysis-software.html |