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
Drummond N
(2011)
Quantum Monte Carlo calculation of the zero-temperature phase diagram of the two-component fermionic hard-core gas in two dimensions
in Physical Review B
Drummond N
(2013)
Quantum Monte Carlo calculation of the Fermi liquid parameters of the two-dimensional homogeneous electron gas
in Physical Review B
Drummond N
(2009)
Quantum Monte Carlo study of the ground state of the two-dimensional Fermi fluid
in Physical Review B
Drummond N
(2016)
Trail-Needs pseudopotentials in quantum Monte Carlo calculations with plane-wave/blip basis sets
in Physical Review B
Drummond N
(2013)
Diffusion quantum Monte Carlo calculation of the quasiparticle effective mass of the two-dimensional homogeneous electron gas
in Physical Review B
Drummond N
(2009)
Erratum: "Quantum Monte Carlo study of the Ne atom and the Ne+ ion" [J. Chem. Phys. 124, 224104 (2006)]
in The Journal of Chemical Physics
Drummond ND
(2015)
Quantum Monte Carlo study of the phase diagram of solid molecular hydrogen at extreme pressures.
in Nature communications
Drummond ND
(2011)
Quantum Monte Carlo study of a positron in an electron gas.
in Physical review letters
Drummond ND
(2009)
Phase diagram of the low-density two-dimensional homogeneous electron gas.
in Physical review letters
Dziedzic J
(2011)
Minimal parameter implicit solvent model for ab initio electronic-structure calculations
in EPL (Europhysics Letters)
Eastham P
(2009)
Vortex states of a disordered quantum Hall bilayer
in Physical Review B
Eastham P
(2012)
Diamagnetism and flux creep in bilayer exciton superfluids
in Physical Review B
Eastham PR
(2010)
Critical supercurrents and self-organization in quantum Hall bilayers.
in Physical review letters
Edge J
(2010)
Collective modes as a probe of imbalanced Fermi gases
in Physical Review A
Edge J
(2011)
Probing ultracold Fermi gases with light-induced gauge potentials
in Physical Review A
Edge JM
(2009)
Signature of the Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov phase in the collective modes of a trapped ultracold Fermi gas.
in Physical review letters
Ejima S
(2011)
Ising deconfinement transition between Feshbach-resonant superfluids.
in Physical review letters
Engel E
(2018)
First-principles momentum distributions and vibrationally corrected permittivities of hexagonal and cubic ice
in Physical Review B
Engel E
(2015)
Anharmonic Nuclear Motion and the Relative Stability of Hexagonal and Cubic ice
in Physical Review X
Engel EA
(2018)
Mapping uncharted territory in ice from zeolite networks to ice structures.
in Nature communications
Engel EA
(2015)
Vibrational renormalisation of the electronic band gap in hexagonal and cubic ice.
in The Journal of chemical physics
Errea I
(2015)
High-pressure hydrogen sulfide from first principles: a strongly anharmonic phonon-mediated superconductor.
in Physical review letters
Escudé M
(2014)
How cells feel: stochastic model for a molecular mechanosensor.
in Biophysical journal
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 |