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
O'Regan D
(2011)
Subspace representations in ab initio methods for strongly correlated systems
in Physical Review B
Cohen SI
(2011)
Nucleated polymerization with secondary pathways. I. Time evolution of the principal moments.
in The Journal of chemical physics
Lu Z
(2011)
Novel Fermi Liquid of 2D Polar Molecules
Möller G
(2011)
Neutral fermion excitations in the Moore-Read state at filling factor ? = 5/2.
in Physical review letters
Cooper NR
(2011)
Optical flux lattices for ultracold atomic gases.
in Physical review letters
Béri B
(2012)
Topological Kondo effect with Majorana fermions.
in Physical review letters
Pickard C
(2012)
Density functional theory study of phase IV of solid hydrogen
in Physical Review B
Young Kim D
(2012)
Phase stability and superconductivity of strontium under pressure
in Applied Physics Letters
Béri B
(2012)
Nonlocal conductance reveals helical superconductors
in Physical Review B
Modes CD
(2012)
Mechanical frustration and spontaneous polygonal folding in active nematic sheets.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Cooper N
(2012)
Designing Topological Bands in Reciprocal Space
Bhaseen M
(2012)
Discrete symmetry breaking transitions between paired superfluids
in Physical Review A
Kwasigroch M
(2012)
Quantum fluctuations of vortex lattices in ultracold gases
in Physical Review A
Cooper NR
(2012)
Designing topological bands in reciprocal space.
in Physical review letters
De Navascués J
(2012)
Drosophila midgut homeostasis involves neutral competition between symmetrically dividing intestinal stem cells.
in The EMBO journal
Martinez-Canales M
(2012)
Thermodynamically stable phases of carbon at multiterapascal pressures.
in Physical review letters
Béri B
(2012)
Probing fractional topological insulators with magnetic edge perturbations.
in Physical review letters
Bhaseen M
(2012)
Dynamics of nonequilibrium Dicke models
in Physical Review A
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)
Correlations in liquid water for the TIP3P-Ewald, TIP4P-2005, TIP5P-Ewald, and SWM4-NDP models.
in The Journal of chemical physics
Griffiths GI
(2012)
Crystal structure of ammonia dihydrate II.
in The Journal of chemical physics
O'Regan D
(2012)
Linear-scaling DFT + U with full local orbital optimization
in Physical Review B
López Ríos P
(2012)
Framework for constructing generic Jastrow correlation factors.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Griffiths G
(2012)
High-pressure ionic and molecular phases of ammonia within density functional theory
in Physical Review B
Zaccone A
(2012)
Theory of molecular crowding in Brownian hard-sphere liquids.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Pickard C
(2012)
Erratum: Density functional theory study of phase IV of solid hydrogen [Phys. Rev. B 85 , 214114 (2012)]
in Physical Review B
Kneževic M
(2012)
Theory of photoferroelectric response in SmC* liquids.
in The Journal of chemical physics
Weber C
(2012)
Vanadium dioxide: a Peierls-Mott insulator stable against disorder.
in Physical review letters
Driessens G
(2012)
Defining the mode of tumour growth by clonal analysis.
in Nature
Baur SK
(2012)
Coupled ferromagnetic and nematic ordering of fermions in an optical flux lattice.
in Physical review letters
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
Huggins DJ
(2012)
Benchmarking the thermodynamic analysis of water molecules around a model beta sheet.
in Journal of computational chemistry
He J
(2012)
How variable clones build an invariant retina.
in Neuron
Zaccone A
(2012)
Theory of thermally activated ionization and dissociation of bound states.
in Physical review letters
Biggins J
(2012)
Elasticity of polydomain liquid crystal elastomers
in Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
Warner M
(2012)
Mechanical and optical bending of nematic elastomer cantilevers.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Griffiths GI
(2012)
High pressure ionic and molecular crystals of ammonia monohydrate within density functional theory.
in The Journal of chemical physics
Sun J
(2012)
Persistence and eventual demise of oxygen molecules at terapascal pressures.
in Physical review letters
Lu Z
(2012)
Fermi liquid of two-dimensional polar molecules
in Physical Review A
Mascré G
(2012)
Distinct contribution of stem and progenitor cells to epidermal maintenance.
in Nature
Knowles TP
(2012)
Twisting transition between crystalline and fibrillar phases of aggregated peptides.
in Physical review letters
Doupé DP
(2012)
A single progenitor population switches behavior to maintain and repair esophageal epithelium.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Eastham P
(2012)
Diamagnetism and flux creep in bilayer exciton superfluids
in Physical Review B
Price H
(2012)
Mapping the Berry curvature from semiclassical dynamics in optical lattices
in Physical Review A
Cole DJ
(2012)
Ligand Discrimination in Myoglobin from Linear-Scaling DFT+U.
in The journal of physical chemistry letters
O'Regan D
(2012)
Generalized Wannier functions: A comparison of molecular electric dipole polarizabilities
in Physical Review B
Bernstein N
(2012)
QM/MM simulation of liquid water with an adaptive quantum region.
in Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP
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 |