QUEEN'S Condensed Matter Physics & Optics
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.
How to apply for Graduate Studies? Please feel free to
browse the individual faculty web pages below and contact us if you are
interested in graduate studies; we would be delighted
to hear from you. The applications procedure and criteria are explained
here.
Theoretical and Computational Research
By FACULTY
T.
Carrington:
Computational quantum dynamics (cross-appointed with the Department of
Chemistry)
M. Dignam:
Theoretical and computational research in photonic crystal devices,
nonlinear optics and ultrafast exciton dynamics in nanostructures
R. Gooding:
Theory of cold atomic gases, including the Bose glass; theory of
disordered interacting electronic systems; theoretical biophysics
S. Hughes:
Theoretical research on nanophotonics and quantum optics
E. Zaremba:
Bose-Einstein condensation in trapped atomic gases, physics of cold
atoms, quantum coherence
Emeritus
M. Stott:
Density functional theory and materials simulations
Experimental Research
Ultrafast nonlinear optics in nanostructures and other systems, semiconductor spintronics, organic and polymer light-emitting devices, glancing angle deposition, optics of anisotropic thin films and materials, scanning probes and nanophotonics, nanoscale electronics and mechanics, small-angle x-ray scattering.By FACULTY
J. Fraser:
Ultrafast and non-linear optics
J. Gao:
Organic and polymer light emitting devices
R. Knobel:
Mesoscopic device physics at low temperature
A. McLean:
Nanophysics, scanning probes and nanophotonics
J-M.
Nunzi:
Chiral photonics
K. Robbie:
Optics of anisotropic thin films, chiral materials, organic/inorganic
hybrid materials, glancing angle deposition (GLAD), carbon-based
materials
M. Singh:
Small-angle X-ray scattering
J.
Stotz: Semiconductor spintronics
Last Updated: August 2011.