Theory of Condensed Matter group
Encyclopedia
The Theory of Condensed Matter (TCM) group is the principal theoretical, as opposed to experimental, branch of the Cavendish Laboratory
(physics department) in the University of Cambridge
.
; Electronic structure; Collective quantum phenomena; and Mind-matter unification. It comprises about 50 researchers, of whom six hold chairs in the University, one of whom is the Nobel laureate Brian Josephson. Other Nobel laureates who have been members of the group are Nevill Mott and Philip Anderson
. Members of the group have driven the development of three widely used software packages called CASTEP
(a plane-wave density functional theory code), ONETEP
(a linear-scaling density functional theory code), and CASINO
(a quantum Monte Carlo code).
The group was headed by Volker Heine
, then Peter Littlewood
, then Michael Payne, who is the present head.
area.
According to the West Cambridge master plan, the group will eventually relocate to a new building.
Cavendish Laboratory
The Cavendish Laboratory is the Department of Physics at the University of Cambridge, and is part of the university's School of Physical Sciences. It was opened in 1874 as a teaching laboratory....
(physics department) in the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
Research
It focuses on four broad categories of research: Soft condensed matterSoft matter
Soft matter is a subfield of condensed matter comprising a variety of physical states that are easily deformed by thermal stresses or thermal fluctuations. They include liquids, colloids, polymers, foams, gels, granular materials, and a number of biological materials...
; Electronic structure; Collective quantum phenomena; and Mind-matter unification. It comprises about 50 researchers, of whom six hold chairs in the University, one of whom is the Nobel laureate Brian Josephson. Other Nobel laureates who have been members of the group are Nevill Mott and Philip Anderson
Philip Anderson
Philip Anderson may refer to:* Phil Anderson , cyclist* Philip Carr Anderson, , professor of medicine* Philip W. Anderson , film editor* Philip Warren Anderson , physicist-See also:...
. Members of the group have driven the development of three widely used software packages called CASTEP
CASTEP
CASTEP is a commercial software package which uses density functional theory with a plane wave basis set to calculate the electronic properties of crystalline solids, surfaces, molecules, liquids and amorphous materials from first principles...
(a plane-wave density functional theory code), ONETEP
ONETEP
ONETEP is a linear-scaling density functional theory software package able to run on parallel computers. It uses a basis of non-orthogonal generalized Wannier functions expressed in terms of periodic cardinal sine functions, which are in turn equivalent to a basis of plane-waves...
(a linear-scaling density functional theory code), and CASINO
CASINO
CASINO is a quantum Monte Carlo program developed in the Theory of Condensed Matter group at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. CASINO can be used to perform variational quantum Monte Carlo and diffusion quantum Monte Carlo calculations for both periodic and non-periodic systems....
(a quantum Monte Carlo code).
History
The TCM group started its existence as Solid State Theory (SST) group in 1955, with Nevill Mott as a founding member.The group was headed by Volker Heine
Volker Heine
Volker Heine FRS is a New Zealand-British physicist.He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and the University of Otago, then Clare College, Cambridge where he became a fellow and professor. He obtained his PhD in physics in Cambridge as student of Sir Nevill Mott.He was elected Fellow of...
, then Peter Littlewood
Peter Littlewood
Peter Littlewood is a British physicist and former head of the Cavendish Laboratory. He previously headed the Theory of Condensed Matter group and the Theoretical Physics Research department at Bell Laboratories....
, then Michael Payne, who is the present head.
Location
The group is located on the second floor of the Mott building of the New Cavendish Laboratory (1973), off JJ Thomson Avenue in the West CambridgeWest Cambridge
West Cambridge is a university site to the west of Cambridge city centre in England. As part of the West Cambridge Master Plan, several of the University of Cambridge's departments have relocated to the West Cambridge site from the centre of town due to overcrowding...
area.
According to the West Cambridge master plan, the group will eventually relocate to a new building.
Famous alumni
- Philip AndersonPhilip AndersonPhilip Anderson may refer to:* Phil Anderson , cyclist* Philip Carr Anderson, , professor of medicine* Philip W. Anderson , film editor* Philip Warren Anderson , physicist-See also:...
- Michael CrossMichael CrossGroup Captain Michael Cross OBE RAFR is the former Chief of Staff of the Air Cadet Organisation. He retired from the post in 2006.-Trek to the South Pole:...
- Brian Josephson
- Nevill Mott
- David SherringtonDavid SherringtonDavid Sherrington is a former English cricketer. Sherrington was a right-handed batsman who played primarily as a wicketkeeper. He was born in Easington, County Durham....
- Volker HeineVolker HeineVolker Heine FRS is a New Zealand-British physicist.He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and the University of Otago, then Clare College, Cambridge where he became a fellow and professor. He obtained his PhD in physics in Cambridge as student of Sir Nevill Mott.He was elected Fellow of...