The Cavendish Laboratory 2008Current Research and Future Development

The Department of Physics

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.

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.

The Research Groups

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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”

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Department

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Contacts

The Cavendish Laboratory

JJ Thomson Avenue

Cambridge

CB3 0HE, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 337 200

Fax: +44 (0) 1223 363 263

Email: hod@phy.cam.ac.uk

Web: www.phy.cam.ac.uk

Head of Department

Prof. Peter Littlewood

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 337 429

Email: hod@phy.cam.ac.uk

Director of Development

Prof. Malcolm Longair

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 765 953

Email: msl1000@cam.ac.uk

Development website: http://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/cavendish/development/