CMMP Seminars
For an updated list of CMMP seminars, please click here.
CMMP News
 UCL scientist goes from Lab Bench to Backbench
Dr Nguyen TK Thanh has taken part in a scheme where MPs and Civil Servants are paired up with leading scientists for a week at both their respective places of work. Dr Thanh was paired with Caroline Jacobs, Senior Policy adviser, EU and International Innovation Policy, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Dr Thanh spent several days in the Houses of Parliament, learning how science policy is formed as well as gaining an understanding of the working life of a civil servant. She said: “The time I spent in Westminster was a golden opportunity to get some insight into how a government department works. I found out how all the issues relating to my research are being decided, governed and executed.“
Ms Jacobs made the return journey in January 2012, visiting UCL to spend time with Dr Thanh to gain a better understanding of how research funding is spent, how research is prioritised and what a typical day is like for a research scientist. Ms Jacobs explained: “My visit to UCL was a wonderful opportunity to hear first hand about key issues faced by senior academics and to learn how challenging, diverse and fulfilling their roles are." [Read more]
 Band alignment, built-in potential and the absence of conductivity at the LaCrO3/SrTiO3(001) heterojunction
In a recent paper in Physical Review Letters, Dr Peter Sushko, in collaboration with colleagues at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, have investigated properties of a polar/non-polar interface formed by LaCrO3 film grown on SrTiO3 substrate and found that there is, indeed, build up of electrostatic potential in the film but there is no interface conductivity [Read more]
  Election to Fellowships of the American Physical Society
Professors Alex Shluger and Des McMorrow of the Group have been elected to a Fellowship in the American Physical Society [Read more]
 Atom-resolved imaging of ordered defect superstructures at individual grain boundaries
In a recently published paper in Nature (479, 380-383), Prof Keith McKenna , Prof Alex Shluger and coworkers combined advanced electron microscopy techniques with theoretical simulations to unravel the structure of grain boundary defects in ceramics, with both atomic resolution and chemical sensitivity. The findings shed new light onto these universally important defects, and demonstrate that their structure can be much more complex than is often assumed [Read more].
 The Harrie Massey Lecture: 23rd November 2011
Coherent Control of Single Molecules, Complexes and Nanoantennas
Niek. F. van Hulst
ICFO - Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Castelldefels, Spain
ICREA - Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona
Date: Wednesday 23 November 2011, 16:00 to 17:30
Location: Wilkins Gustav Tuck Lecture Theatre 25 Gordon Street, WC1H 0AY. Wine reception to follow afterwards.
Bragg Lecture 2011: 26th October 2011
Speaker: Professor Henry Chapman (Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY, Hamburg, Germany)
Imaging Macromolecules with X-ray free-electron laser pulses
Wednesday 26 October at 16:30 in the Harrie Massey Lecture Theatre, University College London, followed by light refreshments in E3/E7, Physics
Also a Bragg Seminar: Ptychography by Wigner-distribution deconvolution - 27th October 2011 11am in E3/E7 Physics
 Evidence for Graphene-Sheet-Driven Superconducting State in Graphite Intercalation Compounds
In a recent paper in Physical Review Letters, researchers from the Brookhaven National Laboratory, in collaboration with the London Centre for Nanotechnology (Chris Howard and Mark Ellerby), have mapped the electronic structure of superconducting GIC, KC8 and non-superconducting LiC6. [read more]
 Publication of the second edition of Elements of Modern X-ray Physics
The second edition of the best selling textbook "Elements of Modern X-ray Physics" by Jens Als-Nielsen and Des McMorrow was published by John Wiley and Sons in March 2011.
In the decade since the first edition appeared, "Elements of Modern X-ray Physics" has become established as one of the standard texts for teaching X-ray science. During this period there has continued to be astonishing progress in the development of X-ray sources and the understanding of how to exploit them. This fact, taken together with the kind and generous comments received in response to the first edition, has encouraged the authors to produce a second edition. [read more]
 Highly-polarized emission from oriented films of water-soluble conjugated polymers
The intrinsic anisotropy of electronic states in semiconducting polymers can be exploited in order to obtain polarized photoluminescence (PL), absorption and electroluminescence. In a recent Advanced Materials publication, Researchers from Franco Cacialli’ s group, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Oxford and Lodz have demonstrated extremely high polarized PL (>95%) using oriented polymeric films obtained by tensile drawing of a stretchable matrix. [read more]
 Marshall Stoneham: 1940 - 2011
We announce with deep sadness the death of Marshall Stoneham at the age of 70 on 18th February 2011. He was Emeritus Massey Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UCL and a staff member of the London Centre for Nanotechnology. Marshall was one of the most productive and influential condensed-matter theorists of his generation, and his scientific legacy includes over 500 publications and many books, among which is his widely read classic "Theory of Defects in Solids". The Condensed Matter & Mateial Physics group owes him a particular debt of gratitude, as he was one of the founders of the group which he joined in 1995. [more]
 Multiscale simulation of small molecule transport in proteins
The transport of small gaseous molecules in inhomogenous media is an ubiquitous physical process in Nature, in particular in the biological arena. The oxygen we breath diffuses to the catalytic site of a particular protein, where it combines with electrons to produce water and cellular energy. Atmospheric CO2 and N2 diffuse to the catalytic sites of proteins that turn them into biomass. In hydrogenase, a protein with potential applications in biofuel-cells, H2 molecules diffuse to the catalytic site where they are converted into protons and electrons. [more]
 Coating TiO2 with thin layers of Al2O3 to enhance the performance of dye-sensitised solar cells
Solar cells converts the energy of photons from sunlight into “green” power. As the energy irradiated from the sun to the Earth is by far more than human requirements, it is not surprising that many efforts are currently being undertaken to make these devices cheaper and more sustainable.
Since their invention in 1991, the so-called dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) have become a promising alternative to the costly traditional silicon devices. [more]
 Magnetic nanoparticles could be used to track neural stem cells after a transplant in order to monitor how the cells heal spinal injuries
Neural stem cells are a promising treatment for repairing spinal cord injuries as they have the ability to generate tissue, but there is no effective way of monitoring the cells for long periods of time after transplantation.
Nguyen TK Thanh at the Davy Faraday Research Laboratory, University College London and the Royal Institution, and colleagues, believe they have the answer. [more]
 Spectrum of Phosphorus Donors in SiGe Explained
It is well known that elements from Group V of the periodic table behave similarly to hydrogen atoms when incorporated into a single crystal of silicon or germanium, and can easily donate electrons to the material. This property has allowed scientists to control the conductivity of these important semiconductors, and was responsible for kick-starting the semiconductor revolution in the later half of the 20th century. A new application is now emerging for this silicon-donor material system in the 21st Century in the shape of quantum computing. [more]
 Spinning information for better memory
With the ever-decreasing scale of electronics, quantum physicists say it is crucial to find new approaches for making this happen. "As consumers want more powerful technology, we need to find new ways to supply this demand" says the University of Sydney's Dane McCamey. [more]
 Mapping the structure and electrical charge of single DNA molecules
Electrostatic forces, potentials and charges play a key role in determining the structure and function of proteins, DNA and larger biomolecular structures. For example, the negative charge on DNA is a crucial factor in the packing of genetic material in the cell nucleus and in the interaction of DNA with various proteins during the transcription of genetic information. To understand these interactions and their effect on biomolecular structure and complexes, we need access to both the structure and the electrostatics at the nano-scale.[more]
 Mechanism of atomic force microscopy imaging in solution.
In a recent paper in Physical Review Letters researchers from the London Centre for Nanotechnology (Matt Watkins, Alexander Shluger) used modern molecular simulation techniques to provide a general framework for the interpretation of AFM images in water. They present analysis of the atomistic mechanisms that produce the variations in force that the microscope measures and that determine the image contrast..
[more]
 Research Highlight: Ultra-Broad Optical Amplification and Two-Colour amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) in Binary Blends of Insulated Molecular Wires
Conjugated rotaxanes, consisting of conjugated into insulating cyclodextrin (CD) rings, offer a remarkable model system to study the effect of intermolecular interactions among conjugated semiconductors in the solid state1.
Researchers from the group of Franco Cacialli in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and London Centre for Nanotechnology (UCL), in collaboration with Colleagues from the University of Oxford and Milan, have demonstrated optical amplification over a band > 850 meV in a blend of two active polymers. This is the largest ever obtained for neat polymer systems (i.e. “undiluted”: not mixed with an inert, non-luminescent polymer or in solution). They also achieved simultaneous stimulated emission in the two materials (2-colour ASE).
[more]
 The Bragg Lecture - Graphene: Magic of Flat Carbon
Click HERE to watch the Lecture.
The Bragg Lecture is the premier lecture in condensed-matter and materials physics at UCL. It is given annually by a distinguished scientist working in the field. This year the lecture was given by Professor Andre Geim of the University of Manchester, whose group discovered graphene and made pioneering observations of many physical phenomena in that material.
Professor Geim has just been awarded this year's Nobel Prize for Physics for his pioneering work on Graphene. He shares the award with Dr Konstantin Novoselov.
Abstract:
Graphene – single atomic plane pulled out of graphite – is a wonder material. It has many superlatives to its name. It is the thinnest material one can imagine and the strongest one ever measured. Its charge carriers have zero effective mass and can travel micron distances without scattering under ambient conditions. Graphene can sustain current densities million times higher than copper, shows record thermal conductivity and stiffness, is impermeable to gases or liquids. It reconciles such conflicting qualities as brittleness and ductility. Electrons in graphene behave in such a way that this allows the investigation of relativistic quantum phenomena in a bench-top experiment. I will overview fascinating properties of graphene and outline some applications.
 Research Highlight: High-Resolution Scanning Near-Field Optical Lithography of Conjugated Polymers
Franco Cacialli's group has produced complex patterns of conjugated polymers, of at least 65,000 dots, via Scanning Near-field Optical Lithography (SNOL) over areas of several 100ths of square microns. They have demonstrated the possibility of patterning films of conjugated polymers down to ~55 nm lateral resolutions for thicknesses of ~ 15 nm, with an aperture-SNOM, despite limitations imposed by the skin-depth of the probes metal coating. These results are obtained on non-metallic substrates, thereby offering greater versatility of application
[more]
 Times Top 100 Scientist
Prof. Steve Bramwell, has been included in the Times Newspaper's newly published Eureka 100: a list of the most important contemporary figures in British Science. The list was topped by medical pioneer Sir Paul Nurse and also includes physicists Steven Hawking and 2010 Nobel Laureate Andre Geim. [more]
 Research Highlight: Revealing the position and orientation of organic molecules on insulating surfaces
In a recent paper published in Nano Letters, researchers from from the CMMP group and the London Centre for Nanotechnology at UCL in collaboration with researchers from the University of Hamburg, have successfully determined the adsorption sites and orientation of cobalt-salen – a metal−organic complex – on the NaCl (001) surface. This was achieved using a novel combination of atomic resolution NC-AFM images and extensive theoretical modelling. By employing Cr coated AFM tips, the researchers were able to simultaneously image both individual molecules and the underlying surface lattice with atomic resolution – the first time this has been achieved on an insulating substrate. By combining the images with accurate simulations of the tip-surface interaction, the chemical identity of the adsorption site was revealed – which was also confirmed with separate simulations of the molecule-surface interaction. These results show how a combination of advanced scanning probe imaging and realistic atomistic simulations can offer unprecedented insights into local structure and interactions at interfaces on the atomic scale. [more]
 Senior Promotion
Our warmest congratulations to Tony Haker on his promotion to Professor.
 Research Highlight: Aluminium at Terapascal Pressures
Under normal conditions matter is mostly empty space. Atoms are built from a dense nucleus of protons and neutrons, with the void between filled by a comparably tenuous cloud of electrons shuttling about, following quantum mechanical rules. High pressure physicists squeeze hard on this empty space (using mechanical presses, diamond anvils, or shock waves from sudden impacts or laser light), forcing the electrons to occupy smaller volumes. [more]
 Research Highlight: Water dissociation on Calcite Surfaces
In a recent paper in the Journal of Physical Chemistry, researchers from the CMMP group and the London Centre for Nanotechnology at UCL have calculated the interaction between water molecules and defects, such as missing ions and steps, on the surface of calcite. [more]
 "Quantum computer" a stage closer with silicon breakthrough.
The findings have been published in Nature by a UK-Dutch team including LCN researchers and mark a significant step towards the making of an affordable "quantum computer". [more]
 Prof. Gabriel Aeppli elected Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
Prof. Aeppli is Director of the LCN and a member of the CMMP group. Election for this fellowship is one of the highest honours which a scientist working in the UK can attain.[More]
 Prof. Steven Bramwell awarded the 2010 Holweck medal and prize
This award is conferred jointly between the Institute of Physics (IOP) and the French Physical Society. Prof. Bramwell is a member of the Condensed Matter and Materials Physics group (CMMP) and the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN). [More]
 Dr Christian Ruegg has been awarded the 2010 Nicholas Kurti European Science Prize
He was awarded this prestigious prize for his pioneering work on quantum phase transitions and novel phases in magnetic materials. . [More]
 Energy materials: electro- and photo-chemical interfaces and devices
This two-day workshop, held on 7-9 September 2010, brings together experimentalists, theorists and computer scientists investigating the elctro- and photo-chemical properties of materials for engery applications. [Programme and registration details]
Prof. Keith McEwen's 65th Birthday Celebration will take place in the Harrie Massey Lecture Theatre, UCL on 4 June 2010 [programme]
 Summer Scholarships
The scholarships are aimed at students
finishing their 3rd year of studies and having strong interest in condensed matter
and materials physics. Deadline for applications Wednesday, March 3. [More]
 Prof. Franco Cacialli becomes a fellow of the American Physical Society. [More]
Professor Franco Cacialli has become a fellow of the American Physical Society upon the recommendation of the Division of Materials Physics.
 PhD studentships in Materials Simulation Now Available
For more information on how to apply visit the Ph.D. Opportunities page. Preliminary email enquiries to Pr. Shluger and Pr. McKenna are encouraged. The deadline for applications is the end of February 2010. [Studendships details]
 PhD Projects Showcase Event
The LCN invites final year students, in any scientific discipline, to visit the LCN on 20th January 2010 to learn about our many Ph. D. opportunities available for the forthcoming year. [more]
 Solving the crystal maze: The secrets of structure
Chris Pickard's research featured in the New Scientist. To learn more about the history of AIRSS and some of it's sucesses, follow this link to the article.
Discovery of the magnetic equivalent of electricity
Prof. Steve Bramwell has a paper published in Nature on the 15th October announcing the discovery of the magnetic equivalent of electricity.
He is also featured in Nature's the `Making the Paper' section and on Nature's podcast. [more]
 CMMP 2009
The annual conference organised by the IOP Condensed Matter Division will take place at the University of Warwick, between 15 - 17 December 2009. [more]
 The Bragg Lecture: Mechanoenzymatics
The Bragg Lecture will take place on Wednesday 28th October 2009 at 4pm in the Harrie Massey Lecture Theatre. This year the lecture will be presented by Prof. Hermann Gaub. For further information click here or to register please contact Denise Ottley.
 The enigma of signalling in olfaction.
Dr Jenny Brookes has been awarded a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust for research into the interactions at the core of olfaction. [more]
 Professor Marshall Stoneham named President-Elect of the Institute of Physics.
Prof. Stoneham will assume the role of President on the 1st October 2009. [more]
CMMP Summer Scholarships
CMMP offers several paid scholarships for UCL students to undertake 6-10 weeks summer research projects in the general area of condensed matter physics. The scholarships are aimed at students finishing their 3rd year of studies and having strong interest in condensed matter
and materials physics. The application process for the 2010 summer scholarships will start in February 2010. Students interested in applying should contact Peter Sushko.
Reports on the research activities of last year's students can be seen here. |
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