Condensed Matter Physics

Our Research

Condensed matter physics uses the fundamental principles of quantum electrodynamics and statistical mechanics to study emergent properties of states of matter. These include the solid and liquid phases traditionally regarded as solid-state physics, but have been extended to include ferromagnetism, anti-ferromagnetism, superconductivity, the Bose-Einstein condensates found in ultra-cold atomic systems and the soft-condensed matter of biological systems. The field of condensed matter physics is one of the largest and most versatile sub-fields of study in physics, primarily due to the diversity of topics and phenomena that are available to study.

Researchers within the School of Physics experimentally examine the structures of solids at the atomic scale which can facilitate the development of quantum computers and the efficient fabrication of optoelectronic devices. These experimental investigations are carried out in conjunction with theoretical which provides the basis for understanding the structures of matter using X-ray, electron or neutron scattering techniques and the properties of exotic states of matter using many-body quantum theory.