Two of the central focusses of quantum materials research are high-temperature superconductivity, and developing topological quantum computation. The former promises the possibility of dissipationless energy transport, revolutionising energy production and storage by facilitating mass adoption of renewable energy, while the latter would allow certain calculations to be performed exponentially faster than is possible on any classical supercomputer, with applications from modelling currently-untractable physical systems, through to cyber security and cryptography. Major developments have occurred in both fields in recent months, with the world's first room temperature superconductor identified (albeit at high pressure), and `anyons', the basis for topological quantum computation, identified in fractional quantum Hall insulators.
These systems, and many others of broad interest to the community, have evaded a theoretical understanding owing to the importance of interactions between particles, necessitating the development of novel numerical techniques to handle them. This project will involve the development and application of such techniques to `topological' materials, both quantum and classical.
Dimer models -- how to arrange dominoes on a chess board -- provide a simple but powerful mathematical model of strongly-interacting matter. Their quantum extension was introduced as a simple model of high-temperature superconductivity, but is now understood to host a much wider range of exotic phenomena, including topological order and quantum spin liquids. Closely related are `spin ice' models, which have successfully accounted for experimental observations consistent with the emergence of `magnetic monopoles' in real materials. Open questions include obtaining statistics on correlations in dimer models at finite temperature; robustness to disorder; and confinement and the mass gap in the quantum model (including potential relevance to exact solutions in QCD, one of the Clay Institute's Millennium Prize Problems).
This project will develop novel numerical approaches based on quantum and classical Monte Carlo techniques for modelling these systems. We will introduce kinetic Monte Carlo techniques to model the dynamics of magnetic monopoles in spin ices; we will then use machine learning to identify the monopoles' existence via dynamical signatures, in collaboration with groups in Oxford and Cornell, supporting ongoing experimental work in Cardiff and elsewhere. We will also apply quantum Monte Carlo techniques to the study of dimer models. These algorithms are computationally very intensive, and will require the development of new methods for running efficiently on the latest heterogeneous high-performance computing architectures (including GPUs and FPGAs).
The UKRI CDT in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Advanced Computing (AIMLAC) aims at forming the next generation of AI innovators across a broad range of STEMM disciplines. The CDT provides advanced multi-disciplinary training in an inclusive, caring and open environment that nurture each individual student to achieve their full potential. Applications are encouraged from candidates from a diverse background that can positively contribute to the future of our society.
Eligibility
The typical academic requirement is a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree in biological and health sciences; mathematics and computer science; physics and astronomy or a relevant discipline. Candidates should be interested in AI and big data challenges, and in (at least) one of the three research themes. You should have an aptitude and ability in computational thinking and methods (as evidenced by a degree in physics and astronomy, medical science, computer science, or mathematics, for instance) including the ability to write software (or willingness to learn it).
Applicants whose first language is not English are normally expected to meet the minimum University requirements (e.g. 6.5 IELTS) (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/international/english-language-requirements)
To apply, please visit the CDT website http://cdt-aimlac.org/ and follow the instructions
Applicants should apply to the Doctor of Philosophy in Physics and Astronomy with a start date of 1st October 2021.
Applicants should submit an application for postgraduate study via the Cardiff University webpages (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research/programmes/programme/physics-and-astronomy) including:
• an upload of your CV
• a personal statement/covering letter
• two references
• Current academic transcripts
In the research proposal section of your application, please specify the project title and supervisors of this project. If you are applying for more than one project, please list the individual titles of the projects in the text box provided. In the funding section, please select ’I will be applying for a scholarship/grant’.
To complete your application please email a pdf(s) of your application to [Email Address Removed]’
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