ABOUT OUR RESEARCH
Condensed matter physics is mainly concerned with the properties of matter in the solid-state. Much modern research focuses on the properties of artificial materials in which atoms are put together in new ways either at the atomic level or on nanometer length scales. Many properties of solids are associated with the quantum motion of electrons from atom to atom. Many of the most robust and dramatic properties are due to the grouping of many electrons into a rigid macroscopic degree of freedom that occurs, for example, in superconductors and magnets.
Problems currently being examined include the electrical transport properties of carbon nanotube 'quantum wires', transport and magnetic properties of thin films of ferromagnets, magnetic properties of materials in non-equilibrium structures, magnetization reversal in nanometer-scale magnets, scanning electron microscopy, high-sensitivity magnetometry, and coherence effects in light-absorption in semiconductors with self-assembled quantum dots.
FACULTY
Core Physics Faculty
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Edoardo Baldini, Ph.D., École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 2017.
Assistant Professor.
Experimental condensed matter physics; discovery and nonequilibrium control of quantum phases of matter, ultrafast laser science.
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James R. Chelikowsky, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1975.
W.A. “Tex” Moncrief, Jr. Chair in Computational Materials | Professor of Physics and Chemical Engineering.
Condensed matter physics; materials physics; electronic, optical and magnetic properties of materials; high-performance computational algorithms for the quantum theory of materials.
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Alejandro L. De Lozanne, Ph.D., Stanford University, 1982.
Professor of Physics.
Low-temperature vacuum-tunneling microscopy.
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Alexander A. Demkov, Ph.D., Arizona State University, 1995.
Professor of Physics.
Condensed-matter theory; physics of electronic materials, surfaces, and interfaces; thin films and devices; novel materials; quantum transport.
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Michael W. Downer, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1983.
Professorship in Physics #2 | Distinguished Teaching Professor.
Atomic and molecular physics; atomic physics; femtosecond spectroscopy; condensed matter surfaces; high-field atomic and plasma physics.
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Feliciano Giustino, Ph.D., École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 2005.
W.A. “Tex” Moncrief, Jr. Endowed Chair No. 6.
Condensed matter theory, computational materials science, high-performance computing.
- Eslam Khalaf, Ph.D., Stuttgart University), 2017.
Assistant Professor of Physics.
Condensed matter theory, Topological materials, Disorder and localization, Moire materials, Superconductivity
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Keji Lai, Ph.D., Princeton University, 2006.
Associate Professor of Physics.
Experimental condensed matter physics; nanoscale electromagnetic imaging; complex oxides; nanomaterials; transport in low-dimensional systems.
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Elaine Li, Ph.D., University of Michigan, 2003.
Professor of Physics.
Experimental condensed matter physics, quantum control, and nanophotonics. Ultrafast spectroscopy and inelastic light scattering of metallic films and nanoparticles, van der Waals materials, semiconductor nanostructures, magnetic thin films.
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Allan H. MacDonald, Ph.D., University of Toronto, 1978.
Wolf Prize, 2020 | Sid W. Richardson Foundation Regents Chair in Physics #1.
Director, Center for Complex Quantum Systems (CQS).
Condensed-matter theory, with emphasis on electron-electron interactions.
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Michael P. Marder, Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara, 1986.
Professor of Physics | Executive Director, UTeach.
Director, Center for Nonlinear Dynamics (CNLD).
Statistical physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, and Complex Systems, with a focus on fracture
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John T. Markert, Ph.D., Cornell University, 1987.
Elizabeth B. Gleeson Professor of Physics | Distinguished Teaching Professor.
Associate Chair, Undergraduate Affairs (Foundational Courses).
Experimental condensed-matter physics; crystal growth; pulsed-laser-ablation thin-film deposition; high-Tc materials; magnetic materials; magnetic resonance; magnetic resonance force microscopy; interferometer/oscillator technologies.
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Linda E. Reichl, Ph.D., University of Denver, 1969.
Professor of Physics | Co-Director, Center for Complex Quantum Systems (CQS).
Quantum chaos, superfluid and superconductor dynamics, scattering theory, matter-radiation interaction.
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Chih-Kang Shih, Ph.D., Stanford University, 1988.
Dr. Arnold Romberg Endowed Chair in Physics.
Condensed Matter Physics; synthesis and characterizations of Low Dimensional Quantum Systems.
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Maxim Tsoi, Ph.D., Universität Konstanz, 1998.
Professor of Physics.
Experimental condensed-matter physics; nanostructures; spintronics.
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Zhen Yao, Ph.D., Harvard University, 1997.
Associate Professor of Physics.
Nanostructures and mesoscopic physics; condensed matter physics; experimental physics.
Other Physics Professors with Research Interests in this Area
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Andreas Karch, Ph.D., Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 1998.
Professor of Physics.
String theory, quantum field theory, quantum information.
Professors in Other Departments
Emeritus and Retired Physics Faculty
- James L. Erskine, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1973.
Trull Centennial Professor of Physics #2.
Experimental solid-state physics; surface physics; magnetism.
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Leonard Kleinman, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1960.
Professor Emeritus of Physics
Solid-state theory; electronic structure of solids, surfaces, and clusters; chemisorption.
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Niu, Qian, Ph.D., University of Washington, 1985.
Sid W. Richardson Foundation Regents Chair in Physics #3.
Geometric and topological effects in condensed matter; semiclassical formulation of transport and thermodynamic properties.
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Raymond L. Orbach, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1960.
Professor of Physics and Engineering (Modified Service)
Energy-related challenges; science education.
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F.W. de Wette, Ph.D., Universiteit Utrecht, 1959.
Professor Emeritus of Physics
Theoretical study of structural, thermodynamics, and scattering properties of crystal surfaces.
In Memorium
- J.D. Gavenda, Ph.D., Brown University, 1959.
Professor Emeritus of Physics
Study of properties of conduction electrons in metals using ultrasonic and electromagnetic waves.
- F.W. de Wette, Ph.D., Universiteit Utrecht, 1959.
Professor Emeritus of Physics
Theoretical study of structural, thermodynamics, and scattering properties of crystal surfaces.
SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS (last two years)
RELEVANT RESEARCH CENTER(S) AT UT AUSTIN
Center for Complex Quantum Systems
