Theory

Synopsis

The Theory Group conducts in-house research in theoretical physics. In addition, the group assists scientists and users of the ESRF beamlines with theoretical questions connected with interpreting their experimental results and conceiving new experiments.

Research topics

The research carried out in the Theory Group concerns mostly solid state theory, with a particular emphasis on magnetism. In particular, we are currently working on the following topics:

• Magnetic and structural properties of transition metal alloys under high pressure. This work is the subject of the doctoral thesis of Yaroslav Kvashnin. It is carried out in close collaboration with the group of Sakura Pascarelli at ID24.
• Multiferroics. These materials are the focus on an intense research activity worldwide, including work done on various ESRF beamlines. The activity of Andres Cano in this field concerns the theory of excitations in multiferroics (electro-magnons), as well as questions related with inhomogenous polarization states in multiferroics.
• Magnetic and electrical properties of graphene. This is one of the hottest field in condensed matter physics. Our activities in the field concern the theory of new phenomena due to strain-induced pseudo-magnetic fields (Andres Cano), the magnetism of transition metal impurities deposited on graphene (Richard Bouzerar, Patrick Bruno), a problem which is investigated experimentally by the Electronic Structure and Magnetism Group, as well as new quantum Hall phenomena in graphene (Patrick Bruno).
• Theory of quantum spin systems and molecular magnets. Here our activity addresses the quantum dynamics of spin systems in the quantum regime (Patrick Bruno). This work applies directly to molecular magnets, but has implications for various apparently unrelated problems, such as ultra-cold quantum gases or superconducting mesoscopic devices.