{"id":9727,"date":"2024-03-06T12:15:44","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T11:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/?post_type=events&p=9727"},"modified":"2024-10-07T14:20:00","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T12:20:00","slug":"physics-colloquium-andrew-boothroyd","status":"publish","type":"events","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/fstm-en\/events\/physics-colloquium-andrew-boothroyd\/","title":{"rendered":"Physics Colloquium"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\nUnravelling Complex Order in Quantum Materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Abstract:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Condensed matter contains unimaginably large numbers of electrons in close contact. At first sight, therefore, it is quite surprising that the quantum theory of solids, developed in the early part of the 20th century and based on the assumption of independent electrons, has been so successful. In the last few decades, however, research has uncovered an increasing number of materials whose properties evade description by the conventional band theory. These \u2018quantum materials\u2019 display non-trivial and often spectacular phenomena that result either from collective electronic behaviour or from geometric properties of the electronic states. In this talk I shall introduce the field of quantum materials and discuss two themes which are becoming increasingly important: \u2018emergence\u2019 and \u2018topology\u2019. I shall draw upon recent work on magnetic and topological materials, and describe how modern scattering techniques are making it possible to unpick complex ordered phases and identify exotic emergent quasiparticles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the speaker:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew Boothroyd<\/a> is a Professor of Physics in the Physics Department at Oxford University, and a Tutorial Fellow of Oriel College. He is currently serving as Associate Head of Department. After completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Cambridge, Andrew joined the University of Warwick, first as a postdoc and then as a University Lecturer. In 1992, he moved to Oxford University where he has served as Head of Condensed Matter Physics, Associate Head of Department, and as Vice-Provost of Oriel College. Andrew\u2019s research exploits neutron and x-ray scattering methods to study quantum materials. These are crystalline solids whose electronic behaviour is dominated by quantum effects. Well known examples are superconductors and various types of magnetic materials, and recently a major new research activity has developed around materials called topological semimetals. In 2011, Andrew received the Institute of Physics\u2019 Brian Pippard Prize, and in 2017 he was recognised as an Outstanding Referee by the American Physical Society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the physics colloquium has a new format<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n