Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
Condensed-matter & materials physics
~ 50 academics, ~ 40 post-docs, ~ 100 PhD students
~ £25M new funding 2009 – 2011 (EPSRC, Royal Society)
~ 300 publications 2009- 2011
CMMP
superconductors, cryo-STM,
semiconductors, quantum matter,
topological insulators, magnetics,
spintronics, spin-ice, TEM, SEM,
correlated electrons, ferroelectrics,
quantum info.
PaLS
soft condensed-matter
CMMP overview
Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
• StA & Edi: atomic resolution spectroscopy
• HWU: solid-state at single quantum level
– quantum information science, mesoscopic physics,
solid-state quantum optics
• Gla/Str: Characterization + novel materials
– SuperSTEM, MagTEM, SEM based techniques,
– magnetic ions/spintronics in wide-band-gap hosts,
ferroelectrics and nanoparticles, solid-state lighting,
photovoltaics
CM - DTC
– Correlated electrons: heavy fermion state, quantum
criticality, topological insulators etc....
– ‘Visualizing novel electronic matter’
– Soft-condensed matter
CMMP Strategy
Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
Sub-theme 1: Quantum matter & technologies
Grand challenges:
1. Understanding & “taming” solid-state
quantum decoherence
2. Achieving scalability
– Strategy 1: coherence in correlated electron systems
• Topological protection and non-equilibrium states (Mackenzie et al,
St. Andrews & Huxley, Edinburgh)
• Novel ground states in thin-film artificial materials (Lee, St. A)
• ~ £10M funding over the next 5 years
– Strategy 2: coherence in solid-state “atomic-like” systems
• Quantum optics with single spins in quantum dots (Gerardot, HWU)
• Integrated quantum optical circuits (Hadfield, HWU)
• ~ £4M funding over the next 5 years
CMMP Strategy
Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
Sub-theme 2: Novel materials physics
and characterization tools
Grand
Challenges:
1. rapid & reliable defect identification
2. improved spatial & temporal resolution
3. 3D reconstruction of atomic/nano structures
Strategy 1 (Strathclyde): Produce step-change in electron
backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and electron channelling
contrast (ECCI). Integrate / apply advances to III-nitride films.
Strategy 2 (Glasgow): Further develop and apply world-leading
electron microscopy tools for static & dynamic high-res
imaging. Apply to thin-films fabricated in-house establish
international leadership in Functional and Ferroic Materials.
Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
CMMP Strategy:
building on SUPA 2
St. A: Peter Wahl Lead new SUPA2 Scanning Probe
Laboratory; ~ £2M ultra-low vibration lab to be built in 2013;
3 world-class STM instruments on permanent loan from Max
Planck Society
Phil King (proleptic, 100% by 2014): electronic structure and
properties of emerging materials, including topological
insulators; complements/enhances strengths of ARPES group
F. Baumberger: Chair at Cologne, retain 20% St. A. appt.
HWU: new nano-fab fully operational
– already underpins ~ £2M EPSRC grants
– centre-piece of new HWU cleanroom (summer 2012)
Scottish Universities Physics Alliance
CMMP Strategy:
building on SUPA 2
Edinburgh: interviews for 2 CMMP academic positions
Glasgow: new academic positions advertised to offset
Loos (departing) and Long (retirement).
Glasgow SUPA2 MagTEM update
Key Capabilities: JEOL ARM-200cF
• aberration-corrected probe
• 80 pm STEM resolution
• <1nm Lorentz resolution (ie. world leading)
• ~0.3eV energy resolution
• atomic column-by-column chemical mapping
• high-speed EELS & EDS (30 pixel/s combined)
• bespoke detectors for magnetic imaging
• test-site status for next-generation instrumentation
• special low-energy (60keV) modes
2 July 2012 – OPENING (invitations to follow)