PhD Studentship: Straining the Electronic Structure

Experimental condensed matter physics PhD based around the development of a device to apply uniaxial strain during photoemission experiments, and its use to tune the electronic structure of quantum materials.

Quantum materials are characterised by the intertwining of the many-body electronic degrees of freedom. The complexity of such an environment precludes easy prediction and understanding of the new emergent phenomena which are continuously discovered in them. In many systems we find multiple exotic phases in competition and a fine balance of parameters determining which one is realised as the ground state of the material, resulting in metal-insulator transitions, topological insulators and semimetals, density waves, superconductivity and complex magnetic structures. Uniaxial pressure can be applied to these materials as a clean tuning parameter allowing us to not only explore and better understand the phase competition, but also control it.

To gain insight into the behaviour of quantum materials, we use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), a powerful technique that directly images the electronic structure as well as their many-body interactions. In order to study the evolution of electronic structure under applied uniaxial pressure, this project aims to develop a device which delivers precise, large and continuously tuneable uniaxial pressures during an ARPES experiment. We conduct the experiments at large-scale synchrotron facilities, and this development project will be done in close collaboration with the Diamond Light Source, UK’s national synchrotron in Oxfordshire.

Technical constraints of an ARPES experiment present us with an interesting hands-on engineering challenge in itself and you will develop and refine the device design, drawing on the expertise and collaborative environment of the Condensed Matter group at the University of Birmingham, as well as the Diamond Light Source. You will then test and use the successful prototypes you have built in short, high-intensity measurement sessions at Diamond, exploring materials in which uniaxial strain is known, or expected, to produce significant changes to the electronic behaviour, such as layered ruthenium oxides and topological semimetals.

All highly motivated students are encouraged to contact Dr. Igor Marković at [email protected] for informal enquiries about the project.

The School of Physics and Astronomy is an Institute of Physics Juno Champion since 2014 and holder of the Athena SWAN Silver Award. Both initiatives recognise the School’s commitment to promote diversity and equality, and to encourage better practice for all members of the community, whilst also working towards developing an equitable working culture in which all students and staff can achieve their full potential. We welcome applications from all qualified applicants, and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented groups in physics and astronomy including, but not limited to, women and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic.

Funding notes:
EPSRC studentships are available to UK students through the University of Birmingham which cover tuition fees and a living stipend for 3.5 years. International studentships are much more competitive, but interested exceptional students are encouraged to get in touch and pursue them.