Materials Theory
The research within materials theory at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Uppsala University cover a wide range of topics within materials and condensed matter physics, including magnetism, superconductivity, the physics of the Earth's deep interior, nanoscale physics, hydrogen storage and biological physics.
Research at the Materials Theory programme focuses on methodological development and application of electronic structure theory, dynamic mean field theory, time-dependent density functional theory, magnetization dynamics, molecular dynamics and lattice dynamics. The applications of these methods involve functional magnets, superconductivity and material for green energy conversion (for example functional magnets, battery materials, materials for solar cell application and materials for storing hydrogen). Moreover, materials in reduced dimensions are investigated, as are driven quantum systems, semi-conducting materials and materials with correlated electronic structures. Furthermore, researchers of the programme study materials under extreme states (high pressure and temperature) as well as materials for biotechnologies.
Materials Theory is a research field where the focus lies on a quantum mechanical description of materials. The research is aimed at understanding materials properties, e.g. superconductivity and topological phases. There is a strong emphasis on making predictions of new functional materials, with desired properties, and to develop the theoretical tools with which we describe materials.
Technologies that we take for granted, such as wind turbines for green electricity, mobile phones and hospital devices for diagnostic investigations, are made possible thanks to intelligent choices of materials. To create new and hopefully greener technologies, we need materials better suited for the challenges humanity faces. The work at the division of Materials Theory is divided into two research programmes, Materials Theory and Quantum Matter Theory. The research is theoretical, but there is also a large component of cooperation with experimental activities at laboratories all over the world. The research is based on quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, and many body theory, where both mathematical and numerical methods are used. The aim with our research is to understand the properties of the materials at a microscopic level and to be able to predict properties of new functional materials.
Often our research projects can be characterized as both ground research (curiosity) and cross-over research. Since we study the properties of real bodies, the application is very high, but in general it is not the application that motivates us. Our greatest aim is to construct materials with properties unthought-of that will help the future life on Earth.
It is rooted in physics, chemistry, mathematics, and more and more even in biology. In the research, analytic and numerical methods are used to understand, and predict if possible, properties of materials, like for example the functional materials used in our everyday life. Examples of questions for research are “Can we design a material being able to detect DNA sequences?”, “What is the optimal materials combination for solar energy converters?”, “How fast can a material react on light impact?”, “Is there any optimal magnetic material for green energy conversion?” and “How can one understand superconductivity?”.
Research areas
The research within materials theory encompasses many different topics and can be grouped into four research areas.
Publications
- Bhardwaj, Vinay; Handler, Marc Zachary; Mao, Junhong et al., 2024
- Muraleedharan, Mrudul; Oppeneer, Peter M., 2024
Publications
Part of Experimental dermatology, 2024
- DOI for A novel professional-use synergistic peel technology to reduce visible hyperpigmentation on face: Clinical evidence and mechanistic understanding by computational biology and optical biopsy
- Download full text (pdf) of A novel professional-use synergistic peel technology to reduce visible hyperpigmentation on face: Clinical evidence and mechanistic understanding by computational biology and optical biopsy
Part of Physical Review B, 2024
- DOI for Ab initio investigation of laser-induced ultrafast demagnetization of L 1 0 FePt: Intensity dependence and importance of electron coherence
- Download full text (pdf) of Ab initio investigation of laser-induced ultrafast demagnetization of L 1 0 FePt: Intensity dependence and importance of electron coherence
Advanced materials provide solutions towards a sustainable world
Part of Nature Materials, p. 160-161, 2024
Part of Optical materials (Amsterdam), 2024
All-optical switching in Cr- and Mn-doped L10 FePt thin films
Part of Physical Review Applied, 2024
- More publications
Contact
- Programme Professor Materials Theory
- Olle Eriksson
- Avdelningsföreståndare
- Biplab Sanyal