Queen's Condensed Matter Physics and Optics is the largest group in the department, combining strengths in condensed matter physics and light-matter interactions.
In condensed matter physics, the objectives are to provide understanding of the enormously rich behaviour of condensed matter systems under a wide variety of conditions. Systems consist of combinations of the hundred or so elements in the form of solids, quantum dots, small clusters, liquids, and dense gases, and in which the multitude of constituent parts are all interacting with one another. They exist under conditions of temperature ranging from the very lowest imaginable, at which superconductivity and superfluidity occurs, to the boiling point. The application of external fields to the systems allows us to probe the system, studying the electrical and thermal transport, magnetic properties and optical interactions. A growing strength within the group is in optics research and light-matter interactions in optical materials and nanostructures, covering a range of research topics including quantum optics, nanophotonics, spintronics, organic LEDs, scanning probes, and ultrafast nonlinear optics.
Theoretical & Computational Research
Range of Research Topics:
- semiconductor optics
- light-matter interactions
- nanophotonics
- quantum materials
- nonlinear and quantum optics
- soft matter
- complex systems
Faculty Members
- T. Carrington: Theoretical & computational research in molecular quantum dynamics (cross-appointed with the Dept. of Chemistry)
- M. Dignam: Theoretical research in nonlinear and quantum optics of nanostructures.
- R. Gooding: Statistical mechanics applied to theoretical problems in chromosome biology and cancer genetics
- S. Hughes: Theoretical research on nanophotonics and quantum optics
- G. van Anders: Soft condensed matter, inverse materials design, self-assembly
Emeritus Members:
- M. Stott: Density functional theory and materials simulations
- E. Zaremba: Bose-Einstein condensation in trapped atomic gases, physics of cold atoms, quantum coherence
Experimental Research
Range of Research Topics:
- ultrafast nonlinear optics in nanostructures and other systems
- semiconductor spintronics
- organic and polymer light-emitting devices
- optics of anisotropic thin films and materials
- scanning probes and nanophotonics
- nanoscale electronics and mechanics
- quantum optics
Faculty Members
- J. Fraser: Ultrafast nanostructure dynamics, laser material processing, and coherent imaging
- J. Gao: Organic and polymer light emitting devices
- R. Knobel: Mesoscopic device physics at low temperature
- A. McLean: Scanning probes, nanostructures, and nanophotonics
- J-M. Nunzi: Optical and electronic properties of organic materials and devices, chiral photonics, solar cells
- N. Rotenberg: Quantum Photonics, Nonlinear optics, Nanophotonics, Quantum circuits
- J. Stotz: Semiconductor spintronics and quantum dots