the cavendish laboratory 2008 current research and future development the department of physics
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Cavendish Laboratory 2008Current Research and Future Development
The Department of Physics
![Page 2: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
The Cavendish Laboratory
• Since it was founded in 1874, the Cavendish Laboratory
has been at the forefront of discovery in physics.
• The policy of the Department is to maintain a very powerful
core of fundamental physics in all of its diversity.
• Among the new developments are initiatives in the Physics
of Biology, Medicine and the Life Sciences.
![Page 3: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Physics of Medicine
• Physics of Medicine is a new initiative led by the Cavendish.
• It will create an environment where researchers can freely mix, discuss and share ideas at the interface of the physical sciences, technology, life sciences and clinical research.
• A new building is being constructed.
• Phase One will officially open in Dec 2008.
• Priority project is the construction of Phase Two.
![Page 4: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
The Research Groups
![Page 5: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
The Research Groups
Research is divided into 12 Groups
• Astrophysics
• Detector Physics
• Atomic, Mesoscopic and Optical Physics
• Biological and Soft Systems
• Inference
• Nanophotonics
• High Energy Physics
• Opto and Microelectronics
• Surface, Microstructure and Fracture
• Quantum Matter
• Semiconductor Physics
• Theory of Condensed Matter
![Page 6: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Astrophysics
• The research programmes of the Astrophysics group are centred on four major areas, each linked to instrumental programmes at the cutting edge of astronomical technology.
• Formation of Stars and Planets• Atacama Large Millimetre Array
(ALMA)• James Clerk Maxwell Telescope
(JCMT)
• Observational Cosmology of the Microwave Background Radiation
• Arcminute Microkelvin Imager (AMI)
• ESA Plank Surveyor Satellite
![Page 7: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Astrophysics
• Formation and Evolution of Galaxies• Low Frequency Array (LOFAR)• Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
• High resolution imaging of Stellar Systems and Active Galactic Nuclei
• Magdalena Ridge Observatory and Interferometer (MROI)
• Kavli Institute for Cosmology• In Aug 2006, the establishment of
a Kavli Institute for Cosmology was approved.
• Funds provided by the Kavli Foundation will support 5-year senior research fellowships.
![Page 8: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Detector Physics
• The Detector Physics Group runs a major facility for designing, manufacturing and testing a new generation of superconducting detectors for astrophysics and the applied sciences.
• The Detector Technology• The group is involved in the
development of a range of detector technologies.
• The Facilities• Better than Class 100 lithography
room.• Full cryogenics and RF test
facility
![Page 9: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Atomic, Mesoscopic and Optical Physics
• The Atomic, Mesoscopic and Optical Physics group studies quantum aspects of condensed matter; from Bose-Einstein condensates to semiconductor quantum dots.
• Quantum gases and collective phenomena
• Areas of interest: superfluidity, quantum magnetism, non-equilibrium phenomena.
• Quantum optics and cold atoms• Correlation phenomena of
bosonic and fermionic atoms.• Quantum Optoelectronics
• Dynamics of spins in low-dimensional semiconductors.
• Quantum optics and mesoscopic systems
• Optical control and manipulation of multiple spins in quantum confines systems
![Page 10: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Biological and Soft Systems
• The 21st Century promises a major expansion at the interface of physics with the life sciences. The Biological and Soft Systems group is pursuing this kind of multidisciplinary research.
• Soft Matter• Colloids• Polymers and Composites• Thin Films and Interfaces
• Imaging• Environmental Scanning Electron
microscope (ESEM)• Medical imaging• Micromechanics and Optical
Manipulation
![Page 11: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Biological and Soft Systems
• Physical properties of biological systems
• Cell Biophysics• Molecular Biophysics
• Physics of Medicine• Many of the activities are
expected to move into the new facility.
![Page 12: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Inference
• The Inference Group is involved in a wide range of projects in the general area of machine learning and information theory. From the optimisation of error-correcting codes to automated strategies for Go.
• The Dasher project• A text-entry interface driven
by natural continuous pointing gestures.
• Energy research• Informing the public and
government of ways energy can be harnessed efficiently and sustainably.
• Neural Networks• Used to understand how
the brain works.
![Page 13: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Nanophotonics
• In Nanophotonics, new materials are constructed in which atoms are arranged in sophisticated ways on the nanometre scale. These meta-materials often display new properties not observed in the constituents.
• Nanoplasmonics• Nanoscale self-assembly results
in nanostructured surfaces with specific optical properties.
• Polymer photonic crystals• Flexible polymer-based photonic
crystals change colour under strain.
• Semiconductor microcavities• Microcavities represent a new
interface for light and matter to meet.
![Page 14: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
High Energy Physics
• The High Energy Physics group’s research is based on experiments a high energy particle accelerators, with group members making up part of several international collaborations.
• ATLAS• A particle physics experiment
based at the CERN LHC.
• Large Hadron Collider beauty experiment (LHCb)
• A special purpose experiment at the LHC used to investigate “B-particles”
![Page 15: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
High Energy Physics
• Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search (MINOS)
• The main goal is to study the phenomenon of neutrino oscillation.
• Research and Development• The group works on an R&D
programme to solve the challenges of next-gen detectors.
• Cavendish HEP Theory work• The groups works on Quantum
Chromodynamics and beyond-Standard Model phenomenology.
![Page 16: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Opto and Microelectronics
• The Optoelectronics group carries out fundamental physics studies in different aspects of organic semiconductor materials; long-chain molecules made from conjugated units such as benzene.
• Light Emitting Polymers• The group pioneered the physics
of semiconducting polymers as LEDs
• Solar Cells• Understanding the formation of
electronic states is important to optimise efficiency.
![Page 17: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Opto and Microelectronics
• Transistors• Research is focussed on the
charge transport of organic semiconductors
• Microelectronics Research Centre• The MRC works closely with the
Hitachi Cambridge laboratory on novel electronic quantum devices.
![Page 18: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Quantum Matter
• The Shoenberg Laboratory for Quantum Matter studies matter under extreme conditions using advanced experimental techniques and very low temperatures, high magnetic fields and high pressures.
• Anisotropic Superconductivity• Exploring the theory for p-wave
and d-wave superconductivity
• Correlated Electron Materials• Studying manifestations of
electron-electron correlation
• Exotic States of Matter• Non-Fermi liquid behaviour
![Page 19: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Quantum Matter
• High-Tc Materials• Continuing investigation
• High Pressure• A new quantum parameter
• Novel Superconductors• Superconduction from new
material combinations
• Quantum Ferroelectrics• New quantum critical point
• New Cryogenics• Simplifying equipment
![Page 20: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Semiconductor Physics
• The Semiconductor Physics group explores and develops new physics using state-of-the-art semiconductor device fabrication technology, particularly in new types of nanostructures.
• One-dimensional Electron transport• Mesoscopic 2D Electron transport
• Examining behaviour in low dimensional systems.
• Electron transport in Quantum dots• Possible future as a new
computing architecture.
![Page 21: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Semiconductor Physics
• Surface Acoustic Waves• Quantum Light sources and detectors
• Collaborative efforts with Toshiba Research Europe.
• Low Temperature scanning probes• Novel scanning system enable
study of conduction in devices.
• Terahertz science and technology• Many applications due to non-
invasive and non-destructive nature.
• Thin Film Magnetism• Novel magnetic properties.
![Page 22: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Surface, Microstructure and Fracture
• The Surface, Microstructure and Fracture group studies surface physics, microstructure, fracture and microscopy, as well as dynamical material testing and high-speed photography.
• Fracture physics• High precision experiments to
develop theoretical knowledge.
• Surface physics• New technique: He-3 Spin-echo.
• Structure and dynamics• Understanding how structures
behave by external effects.
![Page 23: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Theory of Condensed Matter
• The Theory of Condensed Matter group constantly evolves to address new theoretical challenges, some of which arise from novel experiments performed in the Cavendish and elsewhere.
• Collective Quantum Phenomena• Using theoretical methods to
address physical problems
• Quantum mechanical methods• Developing new methods with
greater accuracy.
• Soft condensed matter• Investigating liquid crystal
behaviour.
![Page 24: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
The Department
![Page 25: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Teaching
• Training future generations of physical scientists continues to be a central pillar of the Cavendish’s programme.
• The Laboratory attracts large numbers of the brightest young scientists from the UK and overseas at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
![Page 26: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Teaching
• Undergraduate Teaching• Physics students are able to
develop their enthusiasm and ingenuity through the challenges provided by the course.
• Graduate Teaching• The Laboratory offers graduates
from around the world the opportunity to work with world-class researchers across the complete spectrum of physics.
![Page 27: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Development
• Physics is a living and dynamic discipline, which continues to expand in intellectual depth and breadth.
• Particularly significant are the many cross-linkages with other departments, notably the physics of biology, medicine and the life sciences.
• These ground-breaking developments require new investment in infrastructure.
![Page 28: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Development
• The University has recognised that it is essential to rebuild the Laboratory to match the new requirements of the research and teaching programmes. Specifically:
• The present buildings, constructed in 1974, are no longer appropriate for the current programme or, in light of new interdisciplinary collaborations and new investigative techniques, for the future direction of research at the Cavendish.
• The provision of state-of-the-art laboratories, offices and supporting infrastructure, including scientific computing, with all the advantages of modern design, will enable the Cavendish to maintain and enhance its contribution to physics at the international level.
• The reconstruction of the Laboratory will complement the University's ambitious plans for a major contemporary science complex on the West Cambridge site.
![Page 29: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Outreach
• Educational Outreach to the broader community, particularly young people, is an essential part of the work of the Laboratory.
• The Educational Outreach Office has the prime objective of stimulating interest in physics amongst 11-19 year-olds.
• Physics at Work
• The flagship event organised by the Cavendish is the Physics at Work exhibition.
• Over 2000 young people visit the Laboratory over a three-day period.
![Page 30: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Outreach
• Working with Schools• Educating the next generation of
physicists is regarded as an important responsibility.
• Senior Physics Challenge• A major "schools physics
development programme” and "university access initiative" .
• Cavendish Physics Centre• Envisioned well-equipped facilities
to demonstrate the scope of physics.
![Page 31: The Cavendish Laboratory 2008 Current Research and Future Development The Department of Physics](https://reader037.vdocuments.net/reader037/viewer/2022110320/56649cb05503460f94974192/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Contacts
The Cavendish Laboratory
JJ Thomson Avenue
Cambridge
CB3 0HE, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 337 200
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 363 263
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.phy.cam.ac.uk
Head of Department
Prof. Peter Littlewood
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 337 429
Email: [email protected]
Director of Development
Prof. Malcolm Longair
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 765 953
Email: [email protected]
Development website: http://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/cavendish/development/