Strongly correlated many-body systems are at the forefront of current research in condensed matter physics and beyond. Such systems feature centrally in the ongoing attempts to develop theories for high-temperature superconducting materials, which are of major importance for both fundamental and applied reasons.
Potential projects, to be discussed between the successful candidates and the PI could be the development of new cutting-edge methods to study strongly correlated electrons in unconventionally and high-temperature superconducting systems, and then deploying these methods e.g. for modelling experiments in analog quantum simulators based on ultracold atomic lattice gases. Other projects could involve systems of out-of-equilibrium many-body dynamics that appear in charge-transport through noisy environments or dynamically induced superconductivity.
Applicants must have or expect to have a first class degree or equivalent in physics, with a good background in computational physics including programming, and either the theory of condensed matter or strongly correlated systems.
The PhD-project will be carried out in the group of Adrian Kantian at the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS), a thriving environment for PhD research, having a total of 160 academics, postdocs, PhD and EngD students working full‑time. Heriot‑Watt is based on a modern campus on the outskirts of Edinburgh (Scotland, UK), with excellent transport links to the centre of one of Europe’s most exciting cities. Within IPaQS we are a group working on the theory of strongly correlated quantum systems, with a special focus on unconventional and high-temperature superconductivity in novel model systems, and ultimately aiming at proposals of realistic materials and devices based on these models. A major aspect of our work is the development of quantitatively reliable theory beyond any currently available, in order to accurately predict the properties of these novel high-temperature superconducting systems. Numerical techniques that we use range from the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) to dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) and Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) techniques for fermions. These approaches are complemented with analytical techniques as necessary. This work has multiple connections to other the group’s work on as low-dimensional correlated systems (2D magnets and quasi-1D superconducting materials such as the Beechgard and Fabre salts), flatband systems and analog quantum simulations of correlated lattice models in ultracold atomic gases. Besides the PI, the group currently consists of three postdoctoral researchers, as well as two PhD-students. We have an extended network of established contacts and collaborations with leading theoretical and experimental groups in the UK, Europe and the US. More background on the group and its activities is available at http://materials-theory.physics.uu.se/kantian/
This vacancy is open to individuals who qualify for home fee status as UK residents.
Interested candidates can contact the group head, Dr. Adrian Kantian ([Email Address Removed]) to arrange an informal call to discuss the project in more detail.
Formal applications must be made through the Heriot-Watt on-line
application system, https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/apply/uk/postgraduate.htm
In order to apply, please send
· a statement outlining your research interests and why you would like to pursue your PhD in this group
· a CV
· certificates of exams, degrees and grades
· a copy of your Masters thesis, or equivalent
· published articles and other relevant materials, if available
· contact information for at least two reference persons”
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