Note: this position is now filled.
Postgraduate Scholarship in Theoretical Physics
Project title: Topological Transitions in Superconductors
Supervisor: Dr Jorge Quintanilla
A funded PhD position is available in the field of theoretical physics.
At many phase transitions, something changes qualitatively. This can often be understood through “broken symmetry,” a simple idea that explains phenomena as diverse as the shape of a snowflake, the Higgs mechanism, and superconductivity. More recently, it has been realised that some phase transitions involve a qualitative change without a change of symmetry. In such “topological transitions” what changes is the topology of the many-body state. For example, the nodal lines of a superconductor (the lines on the Fermi surface where the wave function of the electron pairs changes sign) could reconnect in a non-trivial way.
We have recently predicted experimental signatures of topological transitions in the bulk properties of superconductors. The project involves developing this theory further to include strong electron-electron correlations and disorder. The research will involve creating simple models analytically and then writing computer code to solve them. There will be a close link to experiments carried out at the ISIS Facility (STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Oxfordshire).
The successful candidate will be based in the School of Physical Sciences at the University of Kent’s main campus in Canterbury and work under the supervision of Dr J Quintanilla (Kent), with co-supervision by Dr A D Hillier (ISIS). We envisage some periods spent at ISIS and visits to our collaborator Prof J F Annett (Bristol).
This PhD Studentship is due to start in September 2014.
Entry requirements and Funding: Applicants should have or expect to obtain a first or upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in Physics, Mathematics or a related subject. This is a 50th Anniversary Scholarship, which will be offered at the standard UK Research Councils’ rate (currently £13,863; to cover living costs) and will additionally cover tuition fees at the Home/EU rate (currently £3, 996 per annum).
Webpages:
blogs.kent.ac.uk/strongcorrelations
www.isis.stfc.ac.uk/groups/muons
www.phy.bris.ac.uk/people/annett_jf
Contact: For further information or informal enquiries, please contact Dr Jorge Quintanilla j.quintanilla@kent.ac.uk.
Deadline Date for Applications: Friday 14th February 2014
Interviews to be held between: 3rd- 7th March 2014
How to Apply: To apply for this Studentship please go to http://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/212/physics#ug_apply_form. Click on “Apply”, select “Full time, PhD”, and enter the required information. Please note that you will be expected to provide personal details, education and employment history and supporting documentation (Curriculum Vitae, Transcript of Results, Two Academic References). Mention Dr J Quintanilla as your desired advisor if you want to be considered for the present project.