Research Fieldsin Physics

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Contents

Universities in England 2

Universities in London 71

Universities in Scotland 172 Universities in Wales 201 Universities in NI and Ireland 212 Index 244 List of Acronyms 255

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Universities in ENGLAND Institution: University of Bath Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor J Knight URL: www.bath.ac.uk/physics Condensed Matter Theory (Head of Group: Professor D M Bird) Quantum mechanics and photonic crystals Quantum mechanics of bond making and bond breaking at surfaces, density functional theory of electronic structure at surfaces and non-adiabatic effects at surfaces. Theory and modelling of photonic crystals. Lead researcher: Professor D Bird Electronic structure and dynamics Research into electronic structure and dynamics with an aim to developing a quantitative understanding of the stationary states and dynamic properties of electrons at surfaces, interfaces, and nanostructures. Topics include the dynamics of surface excitations and variational embedding for quantum systems. Lead researcher: S Crampin Complex systems in biology Investigation of complex systems by research into the structure and dynamics of animal social networks, models of collective behaviour in biology, and self-organisation in animal societies. Lead researcher: R James Optics Theory of solitons in space and time. Nonlinear and quantum theories of light-matter interaction. Optics of metamaterials and photonic crystals. Physics of cold atoms and Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). Lead researcher: D Skryabin Organic devices and solar cells Multi-scale modelling of charge and energy transport in: organic devices for displays, lighting, sensors and plastic electronics; and novel photovoltaic devices. Lead researcher: A Walker Complex fluids Investigating novel phase behaviour in complex fluids such as colloids and liquid mixtures. Topics include phase behaviour of polydisperse fluids, core softened fluids, novel Monte Carlo algorithms, and phase equilibria and critical phenomena of fluid mixtures. Lead researcher: N Wilding Photonics and photonic materials Photonic crystal fibres (PCFs) Design and fabrication; nonlinear PCFs; photonic crystal modelling; low-contrast bandgap fibre; low-loss hollow-core PCFs; supercontinuum generation; gas-laser devices; dispersion control; optical solitons; and PCF tapering and interfacing. Lead researchers: Professor J Knight, Professor D Bird, T Birks, F Benabid, and W Wadsworth

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Plasmonics, metamaterials and near-field microscopy Metal nanoparticle optics and plasmonics, plasmon waveguiding and sensing; near-field optical, confocal and dark-field microscopy applied to nanophotonics systems; metamaterials research spanning from visible to THz regime. Lead researcher: S Maier Porous Silicon Optical multilayers, acoustic filters and acousto-optic devices. Lead researcher: P Snow Silicon-based nanostructures Light emission from silicon nanocrystal assemblies, nanosilicon-based photonic structures. Energy transfer and photochemical reactions mediated by excitons confined in silicon nanocrystals. Biologically and chemically functionalised silicon nanocrystal assemblies. Nanosilicon-based energetic composite materials. Lead researcher: Professor D Kovalev Computational and theoretical nonlinear optics Nonlinear optics and solitons in fibres; nonlinear photonics in micro- and nanostructured materials; optical vortices; and spatial solitons. Lead researcher: D Skryabin Nanoscience (Head of Group: Professor S J Bending) Ultra-fast science Investigation of transport and fundamental quantum processes in semiconductors using ultrafast optical techniques, in particular time domain THz spectroscopy. The development of THz devices such as sources, detectors, plasmonic waveguides and chemical sensors. The fabrication and optical properties of nano- and microstructured materials and devices, including fibres and metamaterials. Lead researcher: S Andrews Quantum devices and magnetic materials Scanning Hall probe microscopy and micromagnetometry of nanostructured superconducting and ferromagnetic materials; vortex matter in type II superconductors; hybrid superconductor-ferromagnet structures; fluxtronic devices; domain wall physics in ferromagnetic thin films; and spintronics. Lead researcher: Professor S J Bending Slow positron spectroscopy Characterisation of the physical, chemical and electronic properties of solids on the nanometre scale by beam-based positron annihilation spectroscopy. Of particular interest are vacancy-type defects in near-surface regions, thin films, and at interfaces. Lead researcher: Professor P Coleman Magneto-optical spectroscopy and imaging Optical spectroscopy and magnetic resonance of semiconductors and quantum heterostructures; compound semiconductors; magnetic semiconductors; and electron spin resonance imaging for biomedical applications. Lead researchers: Professor J Davies, D Wolverson, and S Bingham

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Quantum nanostructures RF spintronics. Microwave-induced magnetoresistance in hybrid semiconductor ferromagnetic structures. Artificial neurons. Lead researcher: A Nogaret Nanotechnology Single molecule electronic devices; ‘shuttle’ electronics; nanoscale manipulation; nanobiotechnology; and novel tools for nanoscience. Lead researcher: S Gordeev Hybrid nanoscale systems and their applications Novel nanomaterials and molecular systems encapsulated in carbon nanotubes; inorganic/soft material hybrid nanostructures; metallic nanowires; carbon nanomaterials; synthesis; molecular electronics; scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM); and novel nanopatterning techniques. Lead researcher: A Ilie Liquid and amorphous materials Research into the nanostructure and dynamical properties of liquid and amorphous materials, including rare-earth glasses for optoelectronic applications, and the collapse of networks under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature. Lead researcher: Professor P Salmon Centre for Space, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (CSAOS) (Head of Group: P Blondel) Underwater acoustics and remote sensing Experimental studies of high-frequency acoustic scattering (laboratory and sea trials). Theoretical acoustics (validation of scattering models and sonar data processing). Seabed mapping and acoustic characterisation. Direct applications: habitat mapping, geo-hazards (tsunami risks), underwater archaeology, and mine counter-measures. Planetary imaging. Lead researcher: P Blondel Instrumentation for atmospheric science and astronomy State-of-the-art Schottky detectors for high-frequency radiometers. Millimetre-wave heterodyne radiometers for atmospheric sensing and astronomy. Wide-band LTG GaAs optoelectronic detectors. Imaging airglow cameras for atmospheric wave investigation. Lead researcher: S Davies Seabed acoustics Acoustic scattering from the seabed. Detection, classification and identification of targets in or on the seabed. Novel high-frequency sonars. Acoustic communications. Lead researcher: Professor N Pace Medical Physics (Head of Group: Professor N J Cronin) Medical microwave applications Medical uses of microwave radiation requiring an in-depth understanding of the physics of heat transport through living tissue as well as the electromagnetics of microwave design. Projects include the treatment of liver cancer and microwave endometrial ablation. Lead researchers: Professor N Cronin and Professor F Duck

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Institution: University of Birmingham Department: School of Physics and Astronomy Head of School: Professor J M F Gunn URL: www.ph.bham.ac.uk Astronomy Astrophysics and space research (Head of Group: Professor T J Ponman) Study of galaxies and larger cosmological structures over a wide range of wavelengths. Experimental gravity and other ultra-weak forces. Development of ground and space-based instruments for the detection of gravitational waves. Gravitational wave astrophysics and the study of black holes and neutron stars. Space instrumentation for observation of the Sun and heliosphere. Lead researchers: Professor T J Ponman, Professor A M Cruise, M J Church, C J Eyles, A Freise, S Raychaudhury, G P Smith, C C Speake, I R Stevens and A Vecchio Solar seismology – HIROS (Head of Group: Professor Y P Elsworth) Oscillations of the Sun and solar-like stars. Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON). Lead researchers: Professor Y P Elsworth, W J Chaplin, G A Verner Experimental physics Condensed matter physics (Head of Group: Professor E M Forgan) Research covers: device physics at mK temperatures (quantum device physics, high-temperature superconductors (HTS) and intrinsic Josephson junctions); muon spin rotation; thin film HTS deposition; small-angle neutron scattering (SANS); heat capacity and microwave measurements. Lead researchers: Professor E M Forgan, Professor C E Gough, Professor W F Vinen, C M Muirhead, M S Colclough, S Ramos, and E J Tarte Nanoscale physics (Head of Group: Professor R E Palmer) Investigating nanostructured surfaces; cluster physics (plasmons and proteins); nanotools; atomic manipulation; nanophotonics; self-assembly; ultrafast laser interactions; and nanofabrication. Lead researchers: Professor R E Palmer, Q Guo, Z Y Li, A Kaplan, and APG Robinson Molecular physics (Head of Group: C A Mayhew) Studying collisions of ions and electrons with molecules and reactive processes of particular relevance to technological plasmas and trace gas analysis. Lead researchers: Professor R P Tuckett, C A Mayhew, P Watts, and V Mikhailov Medical and radiation physics (Head of Group: D J Parker) Radiation biophysics Investigating applications of physics to biology including radiation dosimetry, radiation epidemiology and radiation biology. Lead researchers: D J Parker, M W Charles, A J Mill, S Green. Positron imaging Studying flow in physics and engineering using positron emitting radioactive tracers. Lead researchers: Professor J Seville, D J Parker, X Fan.

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Cyclotron applications Research uses of the MC40 Cyclotron, including isotope production and radiation effects. Lead researcher: D J Parker. Nuclear physics (Head of Group: G Tungate) Lead researchers: Professor M Freer, G Tungate, P G Jones, Professor J M Nelson, P I Norman, D J Parker Research covers relativistic heavy ion collisions; exotic beams studies (the CHARISSA collaboration); laser spectroscopy of unstable isotopes; positron emission tomography (PET); and nuclear power technology. Particle physics (Head of Group: Professor P M Watkins) Lead researchers: Professor P M Watkins, Professor D G Charlton, D Evans, C M Hawkes, G T Jones, C Lazzeroni, P R Newman, A T Watson, N K Watson, and J A Wilson Collider physics Probing the high-energy frontiers at ATLAS and H1. Charge parity - CP violation Studying matter-antimatter asymmetries at BaBar. Quark gluon plasma NA57 and researching heavy ion collisions with ALICE. Theoretical physics (Head of Group: I V Lerner) Lead researchers: Professor J M F Gunn, Professor A J Schofield, I V Lerner, D M Gangardt, R C Jones, M W Long, R A Smith, and N K Wilkin Theoretical physics / condensed matter - Studying quantum matter and statistical systems from microscopic to macroscopic. Topics include: correlated systems (phenomena such as superconductivity, non-Fermi liquids, giant magnetoresistance and frustrated magnetism in materials including heavy fermion compounds and correlated oxides). Disorder and mesoscopics (Anderson localisation and mesoscopics, transport in classical disordered systems, and localisation in Bose systems). Ultracold atoms (anomalous hydrodynamics, dynamics and collective behaviour of strongly correlated atoms in one dimension, motion of condensates in disordered potential, correlation functions of exactly soluble models, molecules in optical lattices, vortex tunnelling, uncondensed and correlated states, and atoms with attractive interactions). Information and optics.

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Institution: University of Bristol Department: Department of Mathematics Head of Department: Professor Stephen Wiggins URL: http://www.maths.bris.ac.uk/research/applied/themes/ Quantum Chaos Lead researchers: C Dettmann, Professor J Keating, Professor J Marklof, F Mezzadri, S Muller, J Robbins, R Schubert, M Sieber, Professor S Wiggins The group’s work focuses on the physical phenomena which straddle the borders between Classical (Newtonian) Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics; because the sizes of many microprocessors and micro-lasers lie in this range, this research has considerable technological and experimental significance. Members of this group study how the chaotic nature of Newtonian mechanics influences quantum mechanical behaviour at these small size ranges. Research performed in this group touches on some of the most fundamental developments in the field of Quantum Chaos including: theory of discrete quantum chaotic dynamical systems; use of Newtonian dynamics to approximate quantum energy levels (and to predict their statistical distribution); and pioneering work into the statistical description of the values taken by quantum wave functions. Quantum Information Lead researchers: Professor N Linden, A Harrow, K Wiesner, Professor A Winter This group works on all theoretical aspects of quantum information science including foundations, non-locality, entanglement, information theory, cryptography and computation. Random matrix theory Lead researchers: Professor J Keating, F Mezzadri, N Snaith, Y Tourigny Research has driven new insights into the behaviour of the Riemann zeta function and other “L-functions” which are central to some of pure mathematics' most important unsolved problems, for example, the Riemann Hypothesis (distribution of the prime numbers) and the Birch-Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture (theory of elliptic curves).

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Institution: University of Bristol Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor R Evans URL: www.phy.bris.ac.uk Astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor M Birkinshaw) Lead researchers: Professor D M Worrall, Professor S Phillipps, M N Bremer, and M R W Masheder Research areas are: Galactic line emission, masers, formation and cosmological evolution of galaxies, active galactic nuclei (AGN), cooling flows, plasma processes, and microwave background radiation. The department houses the Coldrick Observatory, a 6m radio telescope used to study maser emission.

High energy particle physics (Head of Group: Professor N Brook) Lead researchers: Professor G Heath, J Goldstein, H Heath, C Hill, D Newbold, J Rademacker, and J Velthuis LHCb experiment Experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN colliding protons with protons to study B-mesons which are used to investigate CP-violation. In particular, work on Ring-Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detectors. The Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector at LHC Accurate measurement of muon momentum together with high-precision electromagnetic calorimetry to reconstruct the energy and direction of both electrons and photons. Linear Collider Flavour Identification (LCFI) Collaboration Developing a silicon pixel vertex detector and software to exploit this. Theoretical physics (Head of Group: Professor J Annett) Geometrical aspects of waves and physical asymptotics Topics include polarisation and phase singularities in waves; topological interpretation of diffraction theory; catastrophe optics; and quantum chaology. Lead researchers: Professors M V Berry and J H Hannay Quantum information Non-locality in quantum mechanics, entanglement and teleportation of quantum states, and quantum computation. Closely related activities in Mathematics and Computer Science Departments. Lead researcher: Professor S Popescu Electrons in solids Emphasis is on theories of strongly-correlated systems such as unconventional superconductors, ferromagnet-superconductor nanostructures, metallic magnetism, fragile Fermi liquids and fractional charges. Lead researchers: Professor J F Annett, Professor B L Gyorffy, and N Shannon Statistical, liquid state and soft matter physics Theories of liquid structure and phase transitions in bulk and at interfaces; confined

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fluids; simple models for complex fluids especially colloidal systems; and density functional theory in many-body physics. Lead researchers: Professor R Evans and M Schmidt Correlated electron systems (Head of Group: Professor S Hayden) Lead researchers: Professor M A Alam, Professor N Hussey, A Carrington, R Coldea, and S Dugdale Investigations of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) especially magnetic mediated pairing, electronic structure and superconducting anisotropy, Fermi surface nesting and shape-memory alloys, and Fermi liquids. Neutron scattering studies of collective spin excitations. Positron-annihilation studies of electrons in materials. Facilities include various dilution refrigerators and magnets, furnaces for single crystal growth, and an angular correlation spectrometer for Fermi surface (positron) studies. Micro- and nanostructural materials (Head of Group: Professor D Cherns) Electron microscopy The Group uses 4 TEMs and 3 SEMs investigating wide band gap semiconductors gallium nitride, silicon carbide and diamond, light-emitting structures and semiconductor nanorods. Photoluminescence microscopy for identifying defects. Lead researchers: Professor D Cherns, Professor J W Steeds, and R Vincent Applied spectroscopy Integrated Raman/Infra-red thermal imaging for non-invasive measurements on semiconductor materials. Measurements of phonon lifetimes and deformation potentials. Lead researchers: Professor M Kuball and A Sarua Electrodeposition Specialising in the electrodeposition of metal nanostructures and the study of their structural and electronic properties. Focus on magnetic nanostructures, the early stages of nucleation and growth, the origin and evolution of surface roughness, and multilayers. Lead researcher: Professor W Schwarzacher Nanophysics and soft matter (Head of Group: Professor M Miles) Nanophysics Scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is employed in the investigation of biopolymers and other biological systems in a liquid environment. High-speed versions of the atomic force microscope (AFM), the scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) and a shear-force microscope (ShFM) have been developed with a view to study processes on short-time scales. Force spectroscopy is used to investigate properties at the single molecule level. Lead researchers: Professor H Hörber, Professor M Miles, M Antognozzi, H Gersen and T McMaster Soft Matter X-ray, neutron and computer modelling studies of liquid crystals in bulk and at substrates. Emphasis is on phase transitions, microphase segregation in dendrimers and on spreading of nematic droplets. Neutron diffraction with isotopic substitution

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and anomalous diffraction of X-rays for determining the structure of ionic and semiconductor glasses and liquids. Development of a levitation furnace to manufacture new glasses. Applications of a newly invented microrheometer to microfluidics. Experimental and simulation investigations of polymer morphology Lead researchers: Professor R Richardson, Professor P Barham, A Barnes, S Hanna and J Odell Human radiation effects (Head of Group: Professor D L Henshaw) Investigating the link between electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) and ill health, specifically how power lines affect melatonin production. Related groups Interface analysis centre (Professor Allen) E-research centre (Professor M Birkinshaw) IRC in Nanotechnology - Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration in nanotechnology funded as a collaboration between the University of Cambridge, University College London and the University of Bristol (Professor M Miles)

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Institution: Brunel University Department: Department of Mathematical Sciences Head of Department: Professor Julius Kaplunov URL: http://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/acad/siscm/maths/research/mphys Mathematical Physics (Head of Group: Professor Gernot Akemann) Group Members: Professor G Akemann, T Claeys, Professor A Its, I Krasovsky, Professor G Rodgers, D Savin, L Shifrin, I Smolyarenko, J Vasylesska, I Williams Random Matrix Theory Originally developed in the context of Nuclear Physics in the 1950's, Random Matrix Theory (RMT) enjoys applications in most of today’s Physics as well as in biology, economics and other sciences. At the same time it has become an active area in both applied and pure Mathematics. The main idea in using RMT is to construct mathematical descriptions which capture the essential symmetries of a problem, whilst leading to mathematically tractable or exactly solvable models. Work on mathematical aspects includes universality of spectral statistics, supersymmetry, parametric spectral correlations, characteristic polynomials, complex eigenvalue correlations, and asymptotics of orthogonal polynomials including Riemann-Hilbert problems. Lead Researchers: G Akemann, A Its, I Krasovsky, G Rodgers, D Savin, I Smolyarenko Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics Applied to Economics & Social Sciences Adopting techniques from non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, we study a variety of problems in finance, economics, sociology and business. The philosophy of this research is to develop a simple model that identifies and isolates the essential sociological, economic or financial cause of an empirically-observed phenomenon that is universal. The group has developed a number of models to help understand e.g. the “herding effect”, explaining the fat tail in distribution of returns for many stocks, shares and market indices. Another significant area is scale-free and small-world networks. Recent effort has allowed the development of theories for directed graphs, networks with fitness or heterogeneous vertices, and models incorporating network division. Ideas are being applied to a number of real social and technological networks. Other ongoing work includes the development of an underlying theory for some simple, scale-free networks in terms of RMT. Lead Researcher: G Rodgers Wave Propagation in Disordered Media When waves are excited in spatially-inhomogeneous media, interference of multiply-scattered waves may lead to effects such as Anderson Localisation, where disorder precludes the propagation of waves. Research concentrates on the application and development of the supersymmetric non-linear sigma model, scattering theory and other mathematical tools for disordered systems, both in classical (light) and quantum-mechanical (electrons and excitons) settings. Lead Researcher: I Smolyarenko Quantum Chaos Spectral statistics identical to that predicted by RMT can be observed in a variety of systems ranging from biology to number theory. The celebrated Bohigas-Giannoni-

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Schmit conjecture states that – under given conditions – the spectral statistics of generic, chaotic dynamical systems are identical to those of the corresponding random matrix ensembles. Current research studies the quantum behaviour of non-integrable dynamical systems and similar phenomena in number theory. Lead Researcher: I Smolyarenko Complex Resonances and Open Chaotic Systems The most salient feature of open systems is the set of resonances which are quasi-bound states embedded in the continuum. A natural way to address them is via the scattering matrix, whose poles are complex eigenvalues of a non-Hermitean operator. Replacing the latter with an appropriate RMT ensemble, one can extract universal properties in the chaotic regime. We study statistical properties of complex resonances and (bi-orthogonal) resonance states, and their applications to various scattering/transport problems. Lead Researcher: D Savin Quantum Chromodynamics At sufficiently low energies Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) and related theories can be well described by effective theories of Goldstone bosons in the phase where chiral symmetry is spontaneously broken. A particular limit maps these to unitary group integrals and an RMT description, which can be solved exactly. Their analytical predictions agree very well with numerical data from QCD lattice simulations. One of the current topics is the influence of a quark chemical potential in complex eigenvalue spectra, which poses a considerable problem for lattice simulations. Lead Researcher: G Akemann Correlation Functions in Random Matrices and Exactly Soluble Models Riemann-Hilbert problem methods of complex analysis prove to be effective in research on RMT with a given eigenvalue distribution (e.g. the Gaussian Unitary Ensemble), and also in exactly-soluble models (e.g. quantum spin chains). Research in this area focuses on correlation functions – especially the asymptotic analysis of correlation functions, where most open problems are concentrated. An example of the work covered is to discover the probability of a large interval without eigenvalues in the properly-scaled spectrum of random matrices. Lead Researcher: I Krasovsky, A Its

RMT = Random Matrix Theory

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Institution: University of Cambridge Department: Department of Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) Head of Department: Professor Peter Haynes URL: http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/groups.html Astrophysics Lead researchers: H E Mason, Professor M E McIntyre, G I Ogilvie, Professor J C B Papaloizou, Professor M R E Proctor, Professor N O Weiss Research interests in this area include: astrophysical fluid dynamics, MHD and plasma processes applied to solar physics, astrophysical discs, planet formation, disc planet interactions and extrasolar planetary systems. There is strong collaboration with the Institute of Astronomy. Solar physics, oscillations and magnetohydrodynamics Multi-wavelength observations of physical processes associated with coronal heating, flares and filament eruptions through involvement with space projects (SOHO, Hinode), theory of convection with tilted magnetic fields as in sunspot penumbra, “gyroscopic pumping” applied to the tachocline and deep convective layers to explain the internal confinement of the magnetic field and suppression of differential rotation. Astrophysical discs, MHD turbulence, anomalous transport Exact nonlinear dynamo solutions of the Magnetohydrodynamic equations, analogues of the magnetorotational instability in viscoelastic Couette flow suitable for laboratory experiments, numerical simulations of dust settling in protoplanetary discs with MHD turbulence, Fokker-Planck theory of the interaction of large solid objects with gas disc turbulence, kinetic models of dense planetary rings. Planet formation and exoplanetary systems Mean-motion resonances between pairs of planets and the effect of co-rotation resonances on migration and eccentricity growth, dynamical relaxation of a crowded gravitationally-interacting planetary system as a mechanism for high eccentricity production, theory of tidal dissipation in rotating bodies has been developed with application to the orbital circularization of short-period extrasolar planets, binary stars and solar-system bodies. Geophysics Lead researchers: Professor P H Haynes, Professor H E Huppert, Professor J R Lister, Professor M E McIntyre, Professor P D Wadhams, Professor M G Worster This extended group addresses the science of atmosphere, cryosphere, ocean and solid Earth. One part of this group works within the Institute for Theoretical Geophysics (ITG), a joint initiative of DAMTP and the Department of Earth Sciences. Another has strong collaborative links with the Departments of Chemistry and Geography through the Cambridge Centre for Atmospheric Science (CAS) and with a larger set of Departments through the Institute for Aviation and Environment (IAE).

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Polar Oceans and Sea Ice Use of Automated Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for Arctic sea ice research including long-range trans-Arctic mapping of sea ice topography and thickness distribution. Mathematical modelling and laboratory studies leading to new predictive understanding of coupled ice-ocean processes, growth of frost flowers, the dynamical conditions at the grounding line where an ice sheet floats off the base rock, acoustic methods for ocean observations. Particle-laden, multiphase and granular flows Theoretical studies of particle-laden flows with relevance to snow avalanches, turbidity currents, rock falls, debris flows and pyroclastic surges, fundamental aspects of granular flows, relevant to geophysical examples such as rock falls, flows in porous media including modelling aspects of carbon dioxide sequestration. Interior processes Dynamics of magma dykes, energy supply to the geodynamo, viscous plumes and thermals at large Rayleigh number, simple models of stirring and melting in the mantle to give insight into isotopic ratios. Atmospheric science Transport in the tropical tropopause region and implications for stratospheric water vapour, stratospheric dynamics, gravity-wave parameterization schemes, transport and mixing, atmospheric impacts of aviation emissions. Atmosphere-ocean dynamics Interplay between dynamics, transport, waves and turbulence in the formation of self-maintaining jets in planetary atmospheres (including the Earth's atmosphere) and oceans, decadal-to-interdecadal climate variability of the mid-latitude ocean/atmosphere system and the parameterization of large-scale/eddy interactions. Fluid and Solid Mechanics Lead researchers: N G Berloff, C P Caulfield, S B Dalziel, Professor R E Goldstein, Professor P H Haynes, Professor E J Hinch, Professor H E Huppert, Professor J R Lister, Professor M E McIntyre, Professor N Peake, Professor T J Pedley, Professor J M Rallison, Professor J R Willis, Professor M G Worster The research of this large group extends through fluid mechanics, granular flow and solid mechanics, and an extremely wide range of applications. Members of this group are active in experimental work in the GK Batchelor Laboratory. The main approach to solving scientific and industrial problems is to seek physical understanding through construction and (often asymptotic) analysis of the simplest mathematical model that is consistent both with the laws of physics and with experimental observation. Complex and viscous fluids Collapsing granular columns, flow of granular medium in a rotating drum, formation of underwater sand ripples, flow in fluidised beds, structure of sedimentation fronts, bubbly flows, multiphase flow in (reactive) porous media (applied to oil recovery and CO2 sequestration), melting and high-Rayleigh number convection of glass, dynamics and stability of polymeric liquid flows stress boundary layers in non-Newtonian fluids.

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Free surface and interfacial flows Capillary dynamics and break up of drops, films and jets (e.g. drips moving over a ceiling, ink-jet printing), including non-Newtonian effects and novel numerical techniques, and complete similarity solutions for the fundamental finite-time singularity of capillary break up in an external fluid (both viscous and inviscid). Analysis of sinking and floating of heavy objects supported by surface tension. Solidification dynamics With both industrial and geophysical applications, experiments on solidification of binary melts and of colloidal suspensions, use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to view interiors of mushy layers, growth and structure of stalactites, evolving sea ice. Stratified fluids, mixing and turbulence Gravity currents, natural ventilation, transition to turbulence in stratified shear flow, mixing in a stratified fluid, stirring and mixing in smooth flows, turbulent plumes in a stratified environment, Rayleigh-Taylor instability in stratified. fluids, mathematical analysis of model equations for turbulence. Laboratory techniques Development of new measurement techniques, particularly novel image processing software. Wave theory Noise produced within aero-engines, acoustic waves in curved, non-uniform ducts, effect of ambient turbulence, flow-structure interactions for duct walls, on underwater noise and vibration for submarines, new modes of instability for flow in collapsible tubes, wave-mean interactions and accurate potential-vorticity inversion. Quantum fluids and Bose-Einstein condensates Evolution of a strongly non-equilibrium Bose gas, formation of a vortex tangle, discovery and analysis of new families of solitary waves, motion of a vortex in a non-uniform background. Solid mechanics Dynamics and stability of propagating cracks, including cracks propagating at intersonic speeds and in anisotropic media, studies of multiple dynamic slip on several parallel frictional interfaces. Homogenisation of systems with discrete dislocations deforming plastically. Solid mechanics of thin domains; multi-scale analysis. Mathematical Biology Lead researchers: S J Eglen, J R Gog, Professor R E Goldstein, Professor T J Pedley, Professor S Tavaré Research areas include biomechanics, biological physics, epidemiology and computational neuroscience. Part of the group plays a major role in the Cambridge Computational Biology Institute, a cross-University initiative, hosted in DAMTP, to bring together Cambridge expertise in medicine, biology, mathematics and the physical sciences. Collaborations exist with colleagues in Physics, Zoology, Genetics, Oncology, Physiology, Development and Neuroscience and the Veterinary School.

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Biophysics and Biomechanics Individual and collective behaviour of swimming micro-organisms: elastohydrodynamics of bacterial flagella, hydrodynamic interaction of swimming cells and the formation of coherent structures in concentrated suspensions, plankton interactions in a turbulent ocean, unsteady fish swimming (turns and starts molecular-dynamics study of osmosis through very narrow pores, physics of cytoplasmic streaming in plant cells. Computational Biology infectious disease dynamics (e.g. flu viruses, salmonella) from the epidemiological population scale, through the mechanisms of infection and transmission, to the packaging of viruses; development of the nervous system, neuronal positioning and connectivity. Quantum Information Lead researcher: A P A Kent Activities of this group are focused in the Cambridge Centre for Quantum Computation, with active connections to other Cambridge Departments and elsewhere. Research topics include quantum cryptography, quantum computing algorithms, quantum information theory, quantum control, modelling the implementation of quantum computers in physical systems and developing novel applications of quantum theory and quantum information. Quantum cryptography Provable, secure protocols, protocols for cheat sensitive quantum bit commitment, quantum tagging, security of quantum key distribution schemes, quantum authentication. Quantum information theory New entropy and entanglement measures, state merging and negative information. Quantum control Optimization of device design.

High Energy Physics Lead researchers: B C Allanach, Professor A C Davis, Professor N Dorey, M Dunajski, J M Evans, Professor M B Green, Professor R R Horgan, Professor P V Landshoff, Professor N S Manton, Professor H Osborn, Professor F Quevedo, D M Stuart, Professor J C Taylor, D Tong, Professor P K Townsend, Professor N G Turok, M D Wingate This is one of two large groups in theoretical physics, the other being the General Relativity and Cosmology group. The group is active in Particle Physics Phenomenology, Quantum Field Theory, String Theory and Lattice Field Theory. Particle Physics Phenomenology this research is in collaboration with experimental particle physicists in the Cavendish Laboratory on Beyond the Standard Model signatures at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Supersymmetry, extra dimensions and black hole production have all been studied, as well as signals for string theory. Calabi-Yau compactifications of type IIB string theory, with RR and NS fluxes to provide supersymmetry breaking, are promising, and lead to detailed predictions of

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masses of supersymmetric partners of standard model particles in the range of LHC. Quantum Field Theory Work has recently focussed on superconformal N=4 supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory, in particular, in the “giant magnon'' sector where substantial evidence for the AdS/CFT correspondence has been found. Conformal and superconformal field theories have been studied more generally. The group is particularly strong in the study of solitons in a wide range of quantum field theories. Recent research topics have included the modelling of small nuclei as quantized Skyrmions and the interactions of various composite solitons, composed of domain walls, vortices and monopoles. String Theory String theory is still the most promising theory for a complete unification of all matter and fields, including gravity. Recent work has overlapped cosmology, particle physics phenomenology, and quantum field theory. One important example has been study of the different kinds of D-branes that arise in type IIB plane-wave string theory. Lattice Field Theory There is interest in many applications of lattice field theory, such as the world-wide search for new physics through quark flavour changing interactions. In order to calculate matrix elements needed to connect experimental measurements of hadron decays to fundamental coupling constants, new lattice techniques have been constructed and employed: nonrelativistic heavy quarks, improved staggered light quarks, and automated methods for operator matching and improvement. Extensions of these techniques are being applied to finite temperature QCD using the 3D Chern-Simons action, diffusion in random media and dispersion forces in systems of membranes, as well as to cold gases of fermionic atoms. General Relativity and Cosmology Lead researchers: Professor J D Barrow, A D Challinor, Professor A C Davis, P D D'Eath, Professor G W Gibbons, Professor S W Hawking, Professor M J Perry, Professor H S Reall, Professor E P S Shellard, Dr J M Stewart, D Tong, Professor P K Townsend, Professor N G Turok, R M Williams The interests and membership of this large group overlap with those of the High Energy Physics group. The group hosts the COSMOS supercomputer, a national facility dedicated to studies of early Universe physics and the new Centre for Theoretical Cosmology (CTC). The group is active in numerical relativity, supergravity, discrete gravity, M-theory/string theory and cosmology. General Relativity Various approaches to discrete gravity, in particular Regge calculus, spin foam models and causal histories, quantum evaporation of black holes, numerical general relativity, covering both theoretical problems and applications. Supergravity, M/String Theory and its Applications Major themes include higher dimensional black holes and metrics of special holonomy, e.g. “black rings” and their supersymmetric extensions; uniqueness theorems for static black holes in higher dimensions; the existence of a potential

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instability not present in four dimensions; the first classification of all supersymmetric solutions of a higher-dimensional supergravity theory; the discovery of supersymmetric black holes in 5d anti-de Sitter space (AdS); clarification of the AdS/CFT correspondence and the first law of thermodynamics for Kerr-AdS black holes; numerical and analytical investigation of non-linear instabilities in higher dimensions. Other topics include brane world collisions in M/String theory, “fake supergravities”: theories of gravity coupled to scalars such that the scalar potential is determined by a “superpotential”, the BKL scenario for chaotic behaviour near a cosmological singularity and its relation to speculations about the symmetries of M-Theory, quantum amplitudes in N = 1 supergravity studied within the framework of the Dirac canonical approach. Cosmology The continuing effort to link fundamental theory with cosmology is vital in making cosmology a predictive science and in testing fundamental theory, since cosmology probes energies far beyond those accessible in experiment. Areas of particular interest include: theories of initial conditions, such as the “no boundary” proposal and the application of Liouville measures, the nature of the inflation field or fields, Dirac-Born-Infeld inflation and tests against CMB predictions, inflationary scenarios based on other string theory moduli along with their CMB predictions. Radically alternative models to inflation, the ekpyrotic and cyclic models, are being developed, based more directly on string and M theory concepts. There is ongoing work in theoretical predictions of the abundance and properties cosmic superstrings and other topological defects. The search for scalar fields of the type predicted by string and M theory also continues to be of great interest. The theory and interpretation of CMB anisotropy and polarization experiments continues as a major effort, from theoretical brane-world effects, to gravitational lensing and 21 cm absorption, to data processing and instrument phenomenology. A key focus is the search for gravitational waves produced by inflation, through their polarization signal. The group will actively participate in data analysis for the Planck satellite, to launch mid-2008, and Clover, commencing observations in 2009. Applied and Computational Analysis Lead researchers: Professor A S Fokas, Professor A Iserles, Professor P Markowich, Professor M J D Powell, Professor M R E Proctor, A Shadrin, D M Stuart Applied and computational analysis (ACA) spans a wide range of themes in partial differential equations, numerical analysis, dynamical systems and integrable systems. Its underlying organising principle is an inquiry into issues of interest in applications of mathematics and forging tools and methodology that are relevant in applications. Dynamical systems and pattern formation This focuses on pattern formation and instabilities in dissipative continuum systems and on symmetric dynamics and bifurcation theory, conducted in ongoing collaboration with workers in a range of applied fields: mathematical epidemiology, viscous “rope coiling”, dynamics of friction and surface catalysis. Partial differential equations This work includes: analysis of Gross–Pitaevskii potentials in the Schrödinger equation and of other highly oscillatory dispersive PDEs systems. Cahn–Hilliard equations and applications to image impainting. PDEs occurring in semiconductor

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research, with an emphasis on hydrodynamic Euler–Poisson equations. Nonlinear BGK-kinetic equations and their scaling limits. Mathematical inverse problems arising in medical imaging, with applications in Magneto-encephalography and in Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography. Riemann–Hilbert techniques and methodology. Issues in nonlinear classical field theory modelled by soliton equations. Numerical analysis Concerns itself with a wide range of issues including geometric numerical integration (the computation of differential equations whilst preserving their geometric and qualitative attributes), computation of highly oscillatory problems, computation of nonlinear partial differential equations centred on the Schrödinger equation, Cahn–Hilliard equation and equations of kinetic theory, behaviour and implementation of derivative-free algorithms for nonlinear optimization. Approximation theory This focuses on a number of fundamental theoretical issues inclusive of the optimal choice of approximation bases, shape-preserving approximation, Jackson–Stechkin-type and Markov–Duffin–Schaeffer inequalities, extremal properties of polynomials and k-monotone approximation, research into radial basis functions, with special attention devoted to fast algorithms for their computation and to the influence of boundary effects, work in computer-aided geometric design centred on blending of surfaces and on underlying CAGD theory. Integrable systems Spans a range of active research concerns: soliton dynamics, Riemann–Hilbert techniques, isospectral and Lie–Poisson flows. Institution: University of Cambridge Department: Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory Head of Department: Professor P B Littlewood URL: www.phy.cam.ac.uk Astrophysics Sector (Head of Sector: Professor A Lasenby) Astrophysics Group (Head of Group: Professor A Lasenby) Optical interferometry The application of the aperture synthesis technique at optical wavelengths, in order to produce extremely high resolution images of astronomical objects. Involved in the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer and the Very Large Telescope Interferometer. Lead researchers: Professor C Haniff, D Buscher The cosmic microwave background Currently operating the Very Small Array (VSA) - designed to image primordial cosmic microwave background (CMB) fluctuations on degree scales, and the Arcminute MicroKelvin Imager - an arcminute-scale survey telescope, and preparing analysis techniques for the forthcoming Planck satellite. Lead researcher: M Hobson Submillimetre-wave instrumentation The development of detectors, receivers and techniques for astronomy at millimetre

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and submillimetre wavelengths. Activities range from the engineering of large, high-precision antennas through to the development of sub-micron superconducting detectors. Recent projects include the 16-detector 350GHz receiver Heterodyne Array Receiver Programme (HARP) for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii, and the development of 183GHz water vapour radiometers for Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA). Lead researcher: J Richer Star formation Spectral line and continuum studies of star forming regions at radio, millimetre and infrared wavelengths; physical processes in proto-stellar outflow sources; and image reconstruction algorithms, with particular application to millimetre-wave observations. Lead researcher: J Richer Galaxy evolution Cosmological evolution of star-forming galaxies, in particular the physical mechanisms regulating star formation, The origin and evolution of radio sources, and the effect they have on their environment. The main techniques used are optical, far- and mid-infrared imaging and spectroscopy, radio continuum and atomic/molecular line imaging. Theoretical work makes extensive use of fluid-dynamical and N-body simulations. Lead researchers: P Alexander, D Green, M Krause, M Longair, G Pooley Geometric algebra Applications of geometric algebra in physics, computer science and engineering. Lead researchers: Professor S Gull, Professor A Lasenby, C Doran Detector and Optical Physics (Head of Group: Professor S Withington) Development and manufacture of high-performance superconducting detectors and microcircuits, which are essential for the next generation of astronomical instruments. Activities range from design, through to device processing, mounting, optical test, and interpretation. Biological and soft systems sector (Head of Sector: Professor U Steiner) Lead researchers: Professor U Steiner, Professor E Terentjev, Professor A Donald, R Ansorge, P Cicuta, H Dobberstein, T Duke, J Guck Properties of soft matter, including liquid crystals, polymers and biomaterials, by theoretical, computational and experimental methods. Protein folding and mis-folding in disease and for novel biomaterials. Fluid behaviour at surfaces and interfaces. Medical imaging. Modelling of biological systems. Nanoscience, self assembly and control of aggregation. Theory and quantum systems sector (Head of Sector: Professor M Payne) Atomic, mesoscopic and optical physics group (Head of Group: Professor R Phillips) Quantum optics and mesoscopic systems Quantum dot spins, cavity QED, plasmonics, and diamond colour centres. Lead researcher: M Atatüre

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Quantum gases and collective phenomena Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and Fermi gases, superfluidity, quantum magnetism, two-dimensional systems, and non-equilibrium phenomena. Lead researcher: Z Hadzibabic Quantum optics and cold atoms Quantum gases, optical lattices, single atoms, and cavity QED. Lead researcher: M Köhl Quantum optoelectronics Quantum dot spins, polymer semiconductors, and coherence in semiconductors. Lead researcher: Professor R Phillips Inference (Head of Group: Professor J C Mackay) Machine learning and information theory. Current projects involve neural networks, automated Go playing, the design of record-breaking error-correcting codes and quantum error-correcting codes, and the construction of human-computer interfaces that make use of adaptive language models. Quantum matter (Head of Group: Professor Y Liang) Lead researchers: Professor G Lonzarich, Professor Y Liang, J Cooper, E Pugh, M Saxena, S Sebastian, R Smith, M Sutherland Matter under extreme conditions, ie, at very low temperatures, high-magnetic fields and high pressure using advanced experimental techniques. Finding new forms of magnetism and superconductivity, as well as electrically conducting materials with new physical properties not described within the standard models of solid state physics. Investigating correlated electron materials, including unconventional superconductors, quantum critical phenomena, narrow band transition metal oxides, and heavy fermion systems. Theory of condensed matter (Head of Group: Professor M Payne) Soft condensed matter Elastic, hydrodynamical and optical aspects, and material properties on mesoscopic scales. Statistical mechanics and simulations to explore complex fluids on molecular and nanoscales. Lead researcher: Professor M Warner. Electronic structure Development of new methods with greater accuracy (quantum Monte Carlo) or wider applicability (such as linear scaling for density-functional theory), and on novel applications of these methods in physics, biology, chemistry and materials science. Lead researcher: Professor M Payne (density-functional theory) Lead researcher: Professor R Needs (quantum Monte Carlo) Collective quantum phenomena Collective phenomena are the defining feature of condensed matter. The development of ordered quantum states, for example quantum Hall systems, superconductivity and magnetism in strongly correlated metals, Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of dilute gases and of excitons in semiconductors, and quantum critical phenomena in general. Quantum coherent phenomena in bulk and

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mesoscopic systems, especially the destruction of phase coherence by disorder and inelastic scattering. Lead researchers: Professor P B Littlewood, Professor D Khmelnitskii, Professor B Simons, N R Cooper. Mind-matter unification project The project is concerned primarily with the attempt to understand, from the viewpoint of the theoretical physicist, what may loosely be characterised as intelligent processes in nature, associated with brain function or with some other natural process. Lead researcher: Professor B Josephson Optoelectronics / Microelectronics Sector (Head of Sector: Professor H Sirringhaus) Optoelectronics (Head of Group: Professor H Sirringhaus) Polymer semiconductors, Fastlab Characterisation of conjugated materials and devices, ultrafast (transient) absorption, photoconductivity and luminescence in organic semiconductor materials and proteins. Lead researcher: Professor Sir R Friend Inorganic semiconductors Photoexcitations and magnetic properties of inorganic semiconductors; device design and modelling. Lead researcher: H Hughes Novel semiconductor materials, blends and devices Lead researcher: N Greenham Field-effect transistors (FETs) Novel materials for organic electronics, inkjet printing of polymer transistors, potentiometry of organic devices, and the physics of charge transport in organic FETs. Lead researcher: Professor H Sirringhaus Polydevices Molecular scale electronic structures and processes of organic semiconductors and associated devices. Conjugated polymers. Lead researcher: J-S Kim Low dimensional semiconductor devices Magnetoplasmons, surface acoustic waves (SAWs), and single electron devices. Lead researcher: V Talyanskii Microelectronics (Head of Group: Professor H Sirringhaus) Lead researchers: Professor H Sirringhaus, D Hasko, R Collier, A Irvine, R Chakalov Nanospintronics Spin-Hall effect in non-magnetic semiconductors. Current-induced domain wall motion in magnetic semiconductor nanostructures. Tunnelling anisotropic

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magnetoresistance in magnetic semiconductor nanoconstrictions. Extraordinary magnetoresistance in non-magnetic semiconductors Solid state quantum information processing Physics of single and multiple qubit devices based on silicon double quantum dots. Investigation of electronic structure of silicon double quantum dots and of the coupling between them. High-energy physics (Head of Group: Professor J Carter) Experimental (Head of Group: Professor J Carter) Lead researchers: Professor J Carter, A Blake, F Brochu, C Buszello, S Das, V Gibson, M Goodrick, K Harrison, J Hill, B Hommels, C Jones, C Lazzeroni, C Lester, U Kerzel, G Mavromanolakis, D Munday, A Parker, D Robinson, M Slater, M Thomson, D Ward, P Ward, M White, S Wotton, W Yan MINOS An underground detector for studying the phenomenon of neutrino oscillations in a controlled accelerator experiment and, if confirmed, to make precise measurements of two of the fundamental parameters associated with the lepton flavour mixing matrix. MINOS detects neutrinos fired from Fermilab in Chicago. ATLAS This detector is one of the two major general purpose experiments for the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The group is making a leading contribution to the realisation of the large silicon detector for the experiment, which is essential for tracking particles as they emerge from the collision region. The Group is also investigating possible signatures for supersymmetric processes and other new physics beyond the Standard Model, which could be observed at the LHC: supersymmetry; effects of CP violation in the Higgs sector; large and small extra dimensions; and black holes in theories with extra dimensions. LHCb Dedicated to the study of CP violation in the b-quark system by particle identification via Cherenkov radiation. The Group is concentrating on the design, readout and evaluation of Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detectors for this purpose. The Group is also central to the studies of CP violation physics at the LHC. OPAL and NA48 Analysing the remaining data from Large Electron Position collider LEP as part of: the OPAL collaboration to study Z and W bosons; and NA48 to study CP violation and rare decays of neutral Kaons. A future linear collider The International Linear Collider (ILC) and CALICE (calorimetry for an ILC detector). GRID development Theoretical (Head of Group: Professor B Webber) Lead researchers: Professor B Webber, J Anderson, D Black, E Gardi, A Sherstnev, R Thorne

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Search strategies for new physics at future colliders The phenomenological consequences of models of physics beyond the Standard Model, based on new ideas such as string theory and extra space-time dimensions, are being investigated. Monte Carlo simulations of high-energy collisions Techniques for summing enhanced terms of all orders in perturbation theory have been developed and incorporated in simulation programs for hard collisions at high energies. Predictions are compared with data from LEP, HERA and the other main high-energy experiments. New processes such as supersymmetric particle and black hole production are included in the program in order to predict the features of such processes at the LHC. Determination of parton distributions and structure functions In order to predict the results of any process where hadrons are initial state particles it is necessary to know the parton distributions within the hadrons. We are involved in the determination of these parton distributions using all available data from electron-proton colliders and proton-proton colliders and using next-to-leading order quantum chromodynamics (QCD). This also leads to a determination of the QCD coupling alpha-s. Work is also done on theoretical improvements to standard perturbation theory, particularly resummations of large 1 n(1/x) terms at small x, and heavy quark contributions from charm and bottom. High-energy limit of QCD The dynamics of QCD simplifies significantly in the high-energy limit. This limit includes gluon-gluon scattering at small angles at hadron-hadron colliders and processes involving partons that carry a small fraction of the incident hadron momentum at electron-hadron colliders (small x). The simplified dynamics allows for logarithmically enhanced contributions to be resummed to all orders in the coupling. Special theoretical techniques have been developed in this region; their predictions are compared with HERA and Tevatron data, and predictions are being made for the LHC. QCD resummation QCD is being studied with emphasis on resummation of collinear and soft enhancements to all orders in perturbation theory. A recently completed project involved resummation of threshold and recoil effects in heavy quark production. An automated resummation program, CAESAR, is currently under development.

Precision phenomenology of inclusive B-decay processes measured in the B factories (Belle and BaBar) requires theoretical predictions for the spectrum. Such predictions rely on all-order resummation of the perturbative expansion as well as on the parametrisation of the non-perturbative momentum distribution of the heavy quark in the meson. A new technique, Dressed Gluon Exponentiation, which combines Sudakov resummation with renormalon analysis, is being applied for the first time to inclusive decays.

The QCD description of heavy-quark fragmentation (a heavy quark becomes a meson) and inclusive decay spectra (a heavy quark inside a meson undergoes a weak decay) are closely related. Our research is aimed at understanding each of these processes and the relation between them in a quantitative way.

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Semiconductor physics (Head of Group: Professor Sir M Pepper) Lead researchers: Professor M Kelly, Professor D Ritchie, Professor C Smith, C Barnes, H Beere, C Ford, G Jones, D Paul, K Thomas Research interests include:1D channels. High-frequency single-electron transport using surface acoustic waves (SAWs). Terahertz imaging: emitters and detectors. Terahertz cameras. Silicon germanium. Low-temperature scanning probes. Fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE). Antidots - charging in edge states and the FQHE. Coupled electron or hole gases. Non-invasive probes. Single-hole gases eg paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition, metal-insulator transition. Molecular beam epitaxy. Focused ion beam lithography. Lithography using an atomic force microscope. Schottky collector resonant tunnelling diodes. Molecular nanoelectronics. Surfaces, microstructures and fracture (Head of Group: J Ellis) Surface physics Fundamental studies into static and dynamic surface processes. New approaches to surface physics as well as novel forms of instrumentation. Atom spin-echo spectrometer to observe surface dynamics at ultra-high resolution. Atom microscope for non-invasive surface imaging. Work on benzene and sodium dynamics at copper surfaces, as well as hydrogen adsorption and absorption. Atom-surface interactions and the growth of metal films on stepped surfaces. Lead researchers: B Allison, J Ellis, G Alexandrowicz, H Hedgeland, A Jardine Microstructure Advanced electron microscopic techniques. Current projects are the utilisation of electromagnetic phase shift devices for TEM to improve visibility of low-contrast materials; the employment of carbon nanotubes as high brightness electron field emission emitters; the use of environmental SEMs (scanning electron microscope) to image ferroelectric domains; phase changes; differences in electronic structures in dielectric materials; and finally the development of new electron detectors such as the new unique cryo-STEM (scanning transition electron microscope) detector for (E)SEM and DualBeam instruments that will open a new dimension for the preparation, imaging and analysis of frozen, hydrated or 'wet' thin samples. Further interests are in quantitative chemical analysis (mapping) of biological specimens, using EDS (energy dispersion spectroscopy) and EELS (electron energy loss spectroscopy), 3D analysis of frozen biological TEM (transition electron microscope) samples and using cryo-FIB (focused ion beam). Lead researcher: H Dobberstein Structures for optics Structural physics and its relation to physical properties; involves X-ray and neutron diffraction and EXAFS experiments conducted at synchrotrons and neutron facilities in the UK, France and the USA. Projects include: photo-induced crystallography, organic nonlinear optical materials, determining the microstructure of rare-earth phosphate glasses, and thermal diffuse scattering (TDS). Lead researcher: J Cole Fracture and shock physics Dynamic material testing and high-speed photography. Production of experimental data and development of cutting-edge and innovative techniques for understanding

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low-rate to ultra-fast phenomena. Lead researchers: B Proud, S Walley, D Williamson Thin film magnetism and materials Ultrathin magnetic films and magnetic nanostructures research. Investigation of novel magnetic properties and spin-polarised electron transport phenomena in molecular beam epitaxy (MBE)-grown magnetic film structures, including ferromagnet-semiconductor hybrid structures. Exploration of the fundamental electron spin-dependent transport processes which underpin the emerging field of spintronics. Development of nanomagnetism for biomedical applications.

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Institution: Durham University Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor R A Abram URL: www.dur.ac.uk/physics Advanced instrumentation (Head of Research Section: Professor R M Sharples) Lead researchers: Professor S L Morris, Professor R M Sharples, J R Allington- Smith, G D Love, R M Myers, and R W Wilson State-of-the-art instruments for optical and near-infrared telescopes are designed and constructed in collaboration with observatories worldwide, alongside applications of these technologies outside astronomy in vision science and precision optics. Adaptive optics Adaptive optics seeks to overcome the degrading effects upon image quality of some intervening medium, the optical characteristics of which are evolving rapidly with time. In the case of ground-based astronomy these degrading effects stem principally, but not exclusively, from atmospheric turbulence. Current projects include SPARTA, the next generation adaptive optics system for European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope (ESO VLT); GLAS, a Raleigh laser guide star for the WHT NAOMI adaptive optics system; RAYLEIGH Technical Demonstrator, an adaptive optics testbed currently being prepared for Raleigh Laser Beacon tests at the William Herschel Telescope; high-performance computer modelling, modelling large scale adaptive optics systems for Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) using the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation’s Cray Supercomputer. Non-astronomical activities include opthalmic imaging and free space laser communications. Astronomical spectroscopy The spectroscopy programme is based around research and development in astronomical spectroscopy and includes state-of-the-art facility-class spectrographs for major observatories. It has close symbiotic links with the Durham extragalactic astronomy and cosmology group and with the adaptive optics programme. Current projects include KMOS, a multi-object integral field spectrograph for the ESO VLT; FMOS, a multiple fibre infra-red spectrograph for SUBARU; JWST-NIRspec, a near-infrared multi-object and integral field spectrograph for the James Webb Space Telescope; HEL-IFU an integral field unit for high-energy laser diagnostics. Astronomy and astrophysics (Head of Research Section: Professor M J Ward) Extragalactic astronomy and cosmology Lead researchers: Professor R G Bower, Professor S M Cole, Professor C Done, Professor C S Frenk, Professor T Shanks, Professor I R Smail, Professor M J Ward, D M Alexander, C M Baugh, A C Edge, V R Eke, A R Jenkins, J R Lucey, T Roberts, M A Sobolewska, and T Theuns The formation and evolution of galaxies and clusters, both in terms of their star formation, and the development and influence of massive black holes. The nature and properties of dark matter and dark energy, and the large-scale distribution of matter in the Universe and tests of cosmological theories. The theoretical programme is based around activities within the Institute for Computational

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Cosmology, and is focused on simulations and other studies of galaxy formation, large scale structure and the nature of the dark matter and dark energy. The x-ray sub-group models accretion processes occurring in compact objects, and associated disk and outflow phenomena. The observational programme makes extensive use of a wide range of facilities including the largest optical, infra-red and submillimeter telescopes, radio arrays and space-based facilities such as the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer and the Chandra and XMM-Newton x-ray satellites, and includes key Durham involvement in several major future ground-based surveys. Research areas include: computer simulations of structure formation; high-precision image processing; measurement of the cosmological parameters; measurements of the distances to, and large scale motions of, galaxies; numerical hydrodynamics; origin and evolution of galaxies; quantitative spectroscopic measurements including integral field techniques. Very high energy gamma-ray astronomy Investigations into the sources of gamma-rays emitted by a wide range of objects, ranging across neutron stars, white dwarfs, pulsars, x-ray binary systems, supernova remnants and active galactic nuclei (AGN), by using the atmospheric Cherenkov radiation technique. The Group is part of the H.E.S.S. (High Energy Stereoscopic System) consortium, which operates an array of telescopes in Namibia. Durham was involved in building the array and now in its calibration and scientific exploitation. This facility allows the study of gamma-ray astrophysics to greater precision than ever before, including providing the first images at TeV energies. Lead researchers: P M Chadwick, T J L McComb, J L Osborne, and S M Rayner High-energy astrophysics The origin of high-energy cosmic rays and their propagation through intergalactic space and our Galaxy. Ultra high energy (UHE) gamma-rays. Lead researcher: Professor Sir AW Wolfendale Applied historical astronomy Study of the application of ancient and medieval observations in various aspects of modern astronomy. Determination of long-term trends which are not discernible from modern data alone. The history of astronomy in Mesopotamia, particularly the relationship between observation, theory, and practice in late Babylonian astronomy. Archaeologically recovered material from Mesopotamia, Arabic manuscripts, and printed Chinese, Latin and Greek works. Current research interests include: variations in the Earth's rate of rotation, and the viability of East Asian observations of ‘new stars’. Lead researchers: Professor F R Stephenson and J M Steele Atomic and molecular physics (Head of Research Section: Professor D R Flower) Lead researchers: Professor C S Adams, Professor D R Flower, D Carty, S L Cornish, S A Gardiner, I G Hughes, M P A Jones, and R M Potvliege Ultra-cold atoms and molecules Theory of Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) and quantum chaos. Experiments include: matter wave solitons in Rb-85 BEC, BEC of RbCs mixtures, cold RbCs molecule formation using coherent control, quantum information processing in a CO2 laser lattice, entanglement of atoms and photons using Rb Rydberg atoms, charge

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hopping in a 1D lattice of Sr atoms, sympathetic cooling of molecules using ultra-cold atoms, and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). Atoms and molecules in intense laser fields The study of multiphoton ionisation and high-order harmonic generation. The relativistic dynamics of atoms in super-strong fields, the emission of even-order harmonics by isolated atoms through coupling with the magnetic component of the incident field, the appearance of ‘light-induced states’, the behaviour of atoms exposed to ultra-short laser pulses, laser-induced continuum structures, and adiabatic stabilisation at high frequency. Atomic and molecular processes in interstellar media Theoretical calculations of molecular transitions for a wide variety of molecules commonly seen in the interstellar medium. These transition strengths are used to interpret observations of interstellar clouds and shocks in interstellar gas. Calculating rovibrational excitation cross-sections for interstellar molecules. High-performance computing Application of high-performance computing methods to model physical processes. Concentrated on parallel computing strategies to enhance hardware performance. Condensed matter physics (Head of Research Section: Professor P D Hatton) Magnetism and nanoscience

Lead researchers: Professor D P Hampshire, Professor P D Hatton, Professor B K Tanner, D Atkinson, M R C Hunt, and I Terry

Nanoscale science and technology ‘Bottom up’ and ‘top down’ approaches to the fabrication, study and application of materials, structures and devices with critical length scales measured in terms of nanometres. Superconductivity Basic and applied aspects of superconductivity. The fundamental properties of superconductors and the science underpinning the critical current density of superconducting materials. Research areas: fabrication of nanocrystalline superconductors; optimisation of growth and properties of superconductors; high-temperature oxide superconductors, low-temperature metallic superconductors, optical measurements on superconductors; transport critical current measurements as a function of magnetic field, temperature and strain; measurements in the world-class high-magnetic-field facility in Durham and at international high-field facilities, Ginzburg-Landau theory; and high-performance computational physics. X-ray scattering and magnetism By tuning the incident x-ray energy to that of elemental absorption edges resonant enhancement of charge, magnetic and orbital scattering is observed. We use synchrotron radiation at national and international facilities to study strongly correlated electron systems such as transition metal oxides. We are a world-leading group who have developed the technique of resonant soft x-ray scattering and we are currently building a soft x-ray diffractometer for use at Diamond, Rutherford Appleton laboratory. Our main focus is the study of nanoscale ordering, including orbital ordering, in oxides and other magnetic materials. Application of a range of advanced x-ray scattering techniques to the study of thin film magnetic materials for

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spintronic applications. These are multiple layer structures, each only a few nanometres in thickness, of magnetic and non-magnetic materials. X-ray scattering is utilised to probe the atomic-scale structure of the buried layers and interfaces, and relate this to the magnetic properties. Spin transitions in transition metal oxides probed by muon spin spectroscopy and variable temperature magnetic measurements. The magnetic properties of organic magnetic polymers are also studied, where the magnetism arises from the exchange interactions between unpaired electrons. Photonic and semiconducting materials Lead researchers: Professor R A Abram, Professor D Bloor, Professor J M Chamberlain, Professor K Durose, Professor A P Monkman, S Brand, A W Brinkman, S J Clark, G H Cross, D P Halliday, and M Szablewski

Organic electroactive materials The Group develops and uses a range of spectroscopic techniques to study both materials and device architectures used in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) and solid state lighting. Femtosecond laser spectroscopy techniques include pump probe and fluorescence up conversion, in the picosecond time domain the Group has developed a world-leading facility that combines time correlated single photon counting and streak camera measurements, used for detailed studies of fluorescence, energy transfer and quenching in these materials. The Group also leads the world in the study of the triplet excitons in both OLED materials and devices. Organic light emitting devices are fabricated and characterised using both solution processing and vacuum sublimation. The Group works very closely with chemistry groups around the world and with many companies involved in OLED research. It has also initiated a large scale project in the UK with leading OLED and lighting companies to develop polymer based white emitting devices for solid state lighting applications. Photonics, sensors and materials Integrated optical sensing devices. Slab waveguide interferometers using evanescent field probing of near surface regions. Studies of liquid crystal interface layers using these techniques. Nonlinear optical organic materials. Studies of the fundamental nonlinearity of organic molecules including local field-induced modifications to the polarisabilities. Electro-optic polymer development. Study of metal / polymer composites containing surface structured micro- and nanoparticles. Artificial materials for Terahertz application. Materials for advanced solar energy collection, radiation detection and sensors. The Group is driven by the need for advanced functional materials with applications in solar cells, radiation imaging / spectroscopy and in gas or humidity sensors. We have leading expertise in crystal growth, including for thin films and bulk crystals. Since crystal growth methods have a direct influence on the properties of functional materials, the growth itself is the subject of much of our research effort, especially vapour growth for CdTe related materials, but also for electro-ceramics. We are also engaged in device fabrication, especially for solar cells. The Group is strong in materials and device characterisation, eg by advanced electron microscopy, photoluminescence and other spectroscopic techniques, electrical and ac characterisation.

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Terahertz physics Exploiting the applicable physics of the terahertz region of the spectrum, between radio and light. Current projects involve the development of components and systems for a variety of imaging and sensing applications in biology, medicine and security. These include: the development of a terahertz microscope, for biological applications; artificial materials for probes, filters and lenses; investigating propagation through inhomogeneous materials; and signal processing for tomography. Condensed matter theory Optical and electronic properties of semiconductors, organic materials, and photonic microstructures. Research extends from the study of fundamental microscopic processes through to the modelling of device structures, and involves methods ranging from algebraic techniques to large-scale computational studies. Topics include: first principles calculations, photonic microstructures and microcavities, and semiconductor heterostructures. Elementary particle theory (Head of Research Section and Director of the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology (IPPP): Professor E W N Glover) Lead researchers: Professor W J Stirling, Professor E W N Glover, Professor R A W Gregory, Professor V V Khoze, Professor A D Martin, Professor M R Pennington, P Ball, A Dedes, S Forste, F Krauss, C J Maxwell, G A Moortgat-Pick, S Pascoli, P Richardson, A Signer, and G Weiglein Phenomenology The study of the tiny building blocks of all matter in the Universe and of the forces that operate between them. Our activity covers the whole range of phenomenology (with the exception of lattice gauge theory) – Monte Carlo, quantum chromodynamics (QCD), electroweak and Higgs physics, beyond the Standard Model, flavour physics, neutrino physics, string phenomenology and model building. Much attention is given to the current experiments at the Tevatron, HERA and the B factories, as well as the forthcoming Large Hadron Collider (LHC). In addition, we are active in planning the next generation of experimental facilities, be they part of the neutrino oscillation / neutrino factory programme, upgrades to the LHC, the linear collider, or the super-flavour factories. The IPPP also provides a forum for interaction between UK experimentalists and theorists, coordinating common interests and future research through a series of discussion meetings, workshops and conferences. Theoretical accelerator physics Our new link with the Cockcroft aims to study depolarisation effects in polarised positrons beams which might occur on the way from the source to the interaction point. Duality of gauge theory and string theory Study of non-trivial relations between scattering amplitudes in gauge theory and string theory. Extra dimensions and gravity Study implications of nontrivial topology and geometry in field theory and cosmology, particularly of extra-dimensional objects or branes.

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Institution: University of Exeter Department: School of Physics Head of School: Professor T Naylor URL: http://newton.ex.ac.uk Astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor T Naylor) How stars form is one of the most fundamental problems remaining in modern astronomy. When did the first stars form? What determines the masses of the stars? How does material accrete onto the protostar? What happens to the angular momentum of the collapsing protostellar cloud? How do binary stars and clusters of stars form? Numerical simulation of star formation We undertake powerful numerical simulations based on smoothed-particle hydrodynamics to investigate how stars form, the structure of their circumstellar disks, and how binaries and clusters of stars originate. Spectropolarimetry and radiative-transfer modelling are used to probe the circumstellar flows in the late-stages of star formation. Lead researchers: M Bate, T Harries, D Price Observational star formation We use a variety of methods of study star formation. We have a strong observational programme following stars throughout their formation process. Millimetre and sub-millimetre Millimetre and sub-millimetre observations tell us how the material collects in the very earliest stages of star formation. Infrared (IR) observations allow us to study the young stars, and once the dust around them clears we can use optical observations as well. Lead researchers: C Brunt, J Patience, J Hatchell Optical and IR observations Optical and infrared studies are also crucial for our studies of young stars in the early Universe. Lead researchers: M McCaughrean, Professor T Naylor, T Harries, J Patience High redshift We conduct research in areas related to star formation such as galaxy evolution. We use observations of high-redshift galaxies to investigate the assembly of galaxies when the Universe was less than 1/10 of its current age. Lead researcher: A Bunker Intelligent telescopes We have a strong programme using computer ‘intelligence’ to carry out observations with telescopes. Lead researchers: A Allan, Professor T Naylor Extra-solar planets We use transit surveys to detect extra-solar planets and eclipsing binary stars. Lead researcher: S Aigrain

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Biomedical physics (Head of Group: Professor P Winlove) Our research is concerned with a diverse range of questions in the areas of cell and tissue biophysics, biomedical optics, electrochemistry and imaging. Biophysics of the extracellular matrix Our long-term aim is to clarify the relationships between the physical properties of the macromolecular constituents of the extracellular matrix and their supra-molecular assemblies as well as the physiological functions of the tissue and their involvement in disease. Lead researcher: Professor P Winlove Biophysics of cell membranes This research is directed towards understanding the relationships between membrane composition, structure and biological function both in normal and diseased cells. Lead researchers: P Petrov, P Winlove Biophysics of the vasculature We explore the biophysical aspects of normal microvascular function and, increasingly, with the abnormalities associated with conditions such as diabetes and sepsis. Lead researchers: P Winlove, P Petrov, J Moger Physics of human perception Our research in the physics of human perception focuses on the sense of touch through psychophysics studies and neurophysiology. This work has applications in sensory substitution and virtual environments, and to further insight into musculoskeletal pain. Lead researcher: I Summers Biomedical optics Our current interests largely concern techniques of multi-photon imaging and spectroscopy to aid the characterisation of biological tissues in both healthy and diseased states. Lead researchers: J Moger, H Dehghani, P Winlove Biomedical imaging Research focuses around areas such as functional brain imaging and microvascular abnormalities in diabetes. In addition, new areas of clinical research in bone health and metabolic bone disease are being developed. Lead researchers: I Summers, K Knapp, H Dehghani Numerical modelling and image reconstruction Numerical models of the interactions of biological tissue with light are being pursued to allow tomographic reconstruction of biological parameters using in-vivo measurements. Lead researcher: H Dehghani Biomedical electrochemistry Interests include the use of ultra microelectrodes to monitor metabolism on a cellular scale and ultrafast techniques for the assay of free radicals and short-lived signal molecules to in-vivo measurements of tissue nutrition in patients undergoing surgery. Lead researcher: Professor P Winlove

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Electromagnetic materials (Head of Group: Professor R Sambles) We have a particularly strong interest in the fundamental study of electromagnetic materials that incorporate structure from the nanometre to centimetre scale. We address questions of fundamental and applied importance, such as into how small a volume can light be compressed? Many spectacular colours in nature do not rely on pigments – how are such colours produced? How small can the ‘bit’ of a magnetic data storage device be made? Plasmonics Exploration of the underlying physics and how plasmon modes may be harnessed to control light and control light-matter interactions, fluorescence, absorption, and biosensing. Lead researchers: B Barnes, Professor R Sambles Metamaterials Investigation of how structure at sub-wavelength length scales can be used to provide materials with new optical properties and functionality. Lead researchers: A Hibbins, Professor R Sambles Magnetic materials We are particularly interested in nanoscale magnetic materials and switching. Lead researchers: R Hicken, F Ogrin Biomedical applications Here we seek to produce and use functional nanomagnets (magnetic micromotors) in biomedical applications. Lead researchers: F Ogrin, P Petrov Ultra-fast phenomena We make use of short pulse lasers to probe the ultrafast dynamics of electrons, phonons and spin in nanoscale magnetic materials both through imaging and spectroscopy. Lead researcher: R Hicken Photonics in Nature In parallel with this activity we are also exploring some of the fascinating photonic structures found in Nature such as iridescent butterfly wings. Lead researcher: P Vukusic Terahertz (THz) photonics Our research in the THz area brings together concepts from the visible and microwave to explore and control THz optics and devices. We are interested in THz plasmonics, metamaterials and active devices where control is achieved by photo-excitation of carriers. Lead researchers: E Hendry, B Barnes, M Portnoi Liquid crystals Liquid crystals are important in a range of optoelectronic devices. Our research explores the underlying physics, primarily through optical characterisation. We are strongly involved in research into display devices, and using liquid crystals for microwave control. Lead researchers: Professor R Sambles, A Hibbins

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Nanostructures and nanomaterials (Head of Group: Professor A Savchenko) Our research interests are concentrated around the new states of matter in low-dimensional systems, caused by electron-electron interactions, and the properties of novel bulk and nanostructured materials with and without disorder (impurities), materials that will be used in the next generations of electronic devices. Experimental studies include complementary measurements of electronic, optical and thermodynamic properties. The theoretical investigations use both computational and analytical techniques to study electron, optical and phonon properties of bulk materials, surfaces and nanostructures. Experiment Quantum transport Conductance, noise and compressibility of interacting 2D, 1D and 0D structures. Semiconductors (GaAs and Si) and carbon-based systems - graphene and carbon nanotubes. Lead researchers: A Savchenko, A Usher, M Portnoi, C Williams Magnetometry Contact-free studies of the Quantum Hall Effect, edge currents in electrostatically controlled nanostructures, and microcalorimetry. Lead researchers: A Usher, C Williams, M Portnoi Optical spectroscopy Photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy of interacting GaAs and GaN-based 2D, 1D and 0D systems. Lead researchers: A Plaut, A Usher Liquid helium Creation, detection and interactions of quasiparticles in superfluid helium. Lead researcher: C Williams Theory Transport, magnetic and optical properties Integer and fractional Quantum Hall Effects, excitons, and high-frequency properties of carbon nanotubes (analytical methods). Lead researchers: J Inkson, M Portnoi Impurities and defects Donors in Si, Ge, diamond, carbon nanotubes and graphene (numerical methods). Lead researcher: B Jones Electrons and phonons GaAs and Si surfaces, and carbon nanotubes (numerical methods). Lead researcher: G P Srivastava

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Institution: University of Hertfordshire Departments: School of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics (PAM) and Science and Technology Research Institute (STRI) Heads of Department: Professor S Ryan (PAM) and Professor P Kaye (STRI) URL: http://perseus.herts.ac.uk/uhinfo/schools/pam/homepage.cfm Centre for Astrophysics Research, Science and Technology Research Institute (Director: Professor J Hough)

We carry out research on a wide range of current problems from the detection of supermassive black holes in other galaxies to the properties of dust in the interstellar medium of our own. The Group uses many of the major ground-based telescopes and space observatories, covering wavebands from the radio to x-rays, and a wide range of techniques. The Group also leads a number of legacy surveys on both UKIRT and VISTA.

Gamma-ray bursts - their nature and use as cosmological probes Lead researchers: J Granot, R Priddey, P Jakobsson Active galactic nuclei (AGN) - unified theories Lead researchers: Professor J Hough, M Jarvis Supermassive black holes with adaptive optics Lead researchers: M Sarzi, J Atkinson, J Collett Young stellar objects and their environments Lead researchers: Professor D Aitken, Professor J Hough, A Chrysostomou, J Atkinson, J Collett, P Lucas The evolution of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and post-AGB stars Lead researchers: T Gledhill Brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets Lead researchers: Professor H Jones, Professor J Hough, P Lucas, A McCall, P Pinfield Aligned dust grains: a key to dust properties and the origin of homochirality Lead researchers: Professor J Hough, Professor D Aitken, A Chrysostomou, T Gledhill, P Lucas, A McCall The physics and interactions of radio galaxies, groups and clusters Lead researchers: J Croston, M Jarvis Astrophysical dynamics Lead researchers: J Collett, J Atkinson Galaxy formation Lead researchers: Professor U Fritze, J Stevens, M Jarvis The search for the earliest stages of massive star formation Lead researchers: M Thompson, A Chrysostomou Chemical evolution of the galaxy Lead researcher: Professor S Ryan

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Runaways and hyper-velocity stars Lead researcher: R Napiwotzki White dwarfs Lead researcher: R Napiwotzki Observational constraints on galaxy formation and evolution Lead researcher: M Jarvis The next generation of radio telescopes (Low Frequency ARray - LOFAR & Square Kilometre Array - SKA) Lead researcher: M Jarvis Structure and evolution of nearby galaxy haloes Lead researcher: J Collett The HI nearby galaxy survey (THINGS) Lead researcher: Professor E Brinks Centre for Atmospheric and Instrumentation Research (CAIR), Science and Technology Research Institute CAIR undertakes research into atmospheric interactions and microphysical processes affecting radiative properties and air quality. Atmospheric dynamics and air quality Lead researcher: Professor R Sokhi Light scattering and radiative processes Lead researcher: J Ulanowski Particle instruments and diagnostics Lead researcher: Professor P Kaye Quantum information (Heads of Group: S Huelga , O Steuernagel) Theoretical quantum physics We study fundamental issues in ultra-cold atoms; quantum optics and quantum information processing; the structure and manipulation of bosonic and fermionic gases; quantum measurement theory; nonlinear quantum optics; quantum logic gates; quantum data security and measures; and the generation and use of quantum entanglement.

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Institution: University of Hull Department: Department of Physics Head of Physics: Professor P E Dyer URL: www.hull.ac.uk/physics/index.php Laser materials interactions and laser micromachining (Head of Group: Professor P E Dyer) Lead researchers: Professor P E Dyer, D Sands, H V Snelling, C D Walton Laser ablation, patterning, and annealing Application of diode-pumped solid state microlasers and UV excimer lasers to basic materials interaction studies and microdevice fabrication via micromachining. Interaction of VUV (vacuum ultraviolet) F2 laser radiation with glasses, polymers and crystalline insulators. VUV laser micromachining glass for fabricating micro-optics and microdevices. There is also a continuing research interest in laser annealing studies of semiconductors such as amorphous silicon and SiC. Femtosecond laser interactions Research into the ultra-short pulse regime using a high-power femtosecond laser. This research opens new avenues for processing materials, including biological tissue, under conditions where heat flow damage is essentially negligible. Of particular interest is the study of ultra short pulse, high irradiance, interactions with glasses via nonlinear processes. This provides a route to crack free machining of complex structures that can find applications in so-called lab-on-a-chip devices. The ultra-short pulse laser will also provide a unique source for studying excitation and relaxation kinetics in complex molecules used in organic photonics applications and for two-photon absorption measurements in photodynamic therapy photosensitisers. Soft matter physics (Head of Group: D M A Buzza) Lead researcher: D M A Buzza Modelling of soft matter systems including polymers, colloids, surfactants and liquid crystals. We adopt a multi-scale approach where the modelling methodology used matches the length-scale of interest. Specifically, the modelling techniques used include (in increasing order of coarse-graining) molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo simulations of monomer-resolved models, dissipative particle dynamics of complex fluids, self-consistent field theory and scaling theory for polymers and continuum models for liquid interfaces. Current research areas include 2D colloidal crystals, self-assembly of polymers and polypeptides, continuum models of complex fluid interfaces, etc. Organophotonics (Head of Group: Professor M O’Neill) Lead researchers: Professor M O’Neill, Professor S Kelly, D M A Buzza The Organophotonics Group is interdisciplinary and applies liquid crystal chemistry and semiconductor physics to niche areas in organic optoelectronics. Research involves the design, synthesis and physical evaluation of new materials, device engineering and theoretical modelling. Current research areas include light-emitting and photopatternable liquid crystals for electroluminescence, organic photovoltaics, luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals and photoalignment materials for liquid crystal displays.

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Theoretical physics Lead researchers: J Dunning-Davies, D Sands Laws of thermodynamics and statistical thermodynamics with particularly application to astrophysics problems. Thermal modelling of heat flow.

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Institution: University of Keele Department: Research Institute for the Environment, Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics Head of Department: Professor P Styles URL: www.keele.ac.uk/research/epsam Astrophysics Research interests include star formation and stellar clusters, late stages of stellar evolution, stellar hydrodynamics and nuclear astrophysics, stellar dynamics, the interstellar medium, binary stars, interacting binary stars, the detection of extra-solar planets, active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) Keele is part of the SuperWASP consortium that uses the transit technique to discover new planets beyond the Solar System. SuperWASP is undertaking a comprehensive, wide-field sky survey to detect planetary transits in stars down to 18th magnitude. SuperWASP will also provide a wealth of data on all classes of variable stars, allowing the systematic analysis of large samples and the discovery of new and rare variable types. Lead researchers: C Hellier, P Maxted, B Smalley Nova explosions Novae are the third most violent explosions in the Universe, after supernovae and GRBs, and display many astrophysical phenomena that occur in other astrophysical systems over very long time-scales. We observe nova explosions primarily in the infrared, and complement these with observations at other wavelengths. Lead researcher: A Evans Accretion in compact binary stars Investigating accretion onto neutron stars and white dwarf stars, using satellites such as XMM, Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope (HST), complemented by ground-based telescopes. Understanding of magnetically channelled accretion, where the accretion process interacts with a strong magnetic field on the compact star. Lead researcher: C Hellier Stellar hydrodynamics and nuclear astrophysics Investigation of the evolution of, and nucleosynthesis in, asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. Turbulent properties of stellar convection in the deep stellar interior. Hydrostatic stellar evolution code to calculate AGB and post-AGB evolution, including detailed nuclear network and updated input physics. Calculating stellar yields as a function of initial stellar mass and metallicity, eg for near-field cosmology applications. Lead researchers: F Herwig , R Hirschi Observations of close binary stars Research uses surveys to find examples of close binary stars which have interacted in the past, and may do again, but are currently not exchanging mass. We measure their properties, for example, the number in the galaxy, their distribution of orbital periods or the masses and sizes of the stars. This research gives information which is being used to understand the properties of many types of interacting binary stars. Lead researcher: P Maxted Low-mass stars in clusters and associations Searching for young, low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in star-forming regions and

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clusters in order to find how common they are in a variety of environments, and following the temporal evolution of their discs, rotation rates, magnetic activity and chemical abundances. Understanding the way in which birth environment influences the development of low-mass stars (and their planetary systems) and to investigate the astrophysics, such as mixing, convection and magnetic fields, that are incorporated into pre-main sequence evolutionary models. Lead researcher: R Jeffries Stellar ecology We carry out large observational programmes (mainly imaging and spectroscopy at optical and infrared wavelengths on 4-8m class telescopes) to study the mass-loss and evolution of red giants and supergiants in the Magellanic Clouds and in galactic globular clusters. Lead researcher: J van Loon Atmospheric parameters of stars The stellar atmospheric parameters of effective temperature and surface gravity are of fundamental astrophysical importance. They are the prerequisites to any detailed abundance analysis. As well as defining the physical conditions in the stellar atmosphere, these parameters are directly related to the physical properties of the star; mass, radius and luminosity. Model atmospheres are our analytical link between the physical properties and the observables - flux distributions and spectral line profiles. We can obtain effective temperature and surface gravity from suitable observations, assuming of course that the models we use are adequate and appropriate. Lead researcher: B Smalley Active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts Our work is aimed at understanding the high energy emission from the central engines of active galactic nuclei (AGN), originating from the innermost accretion disk around massive black holes. Other areas of research include studies of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), ultra-luminous x-ray sources (ULXs) in nearby galaxies as candidate intermediate mass black holes, high-redshift quasars, x-ray surveys and the x-ray background. Study of the relativistic iron line and nuclear outflows in AGN, the connection between GRBs / Supernovae, as well as in high-redshift GRBs. This work makes extensive use of space-based observatories such as XMM-Newton, Chandra, HST, Suzaku and Swift, supplemented by ground-based facilities. Lead researcher: J N Reeves Stellar dynamics Research interests cover a variety of topics in stellar dynamics and extragalactic astronomy, including: the internal structures and stellar dynamics of ancient globular star clusters in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies; collective properties of the systems of globular clusters as tracers of their parent galaxies' structure, formation and evolution; the massive, compact stellar clusters found at the centres (nuclei) of many galaxies; dark matter in galaxies and the gaseous intergalactic medium in clusters of galaxies; and star formation and structure in the interstellar medium. Lead researcher: D McLaughlin Physics Condensed matter In-situ x-ray diffraction techniques using synchrotron radiation sources to investigate structural changes during industrial processing of polymer materials with time-

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resolution 40 milliseconds, spatial variation in polymer orientation, and characterisation of crystallisation in polymer materials with a resolution of few microns. These techniques have been successfully extended to the study of solid-state phase transitions, crystallisation in pharmaceutical ingredients and the polymorphism associated with cocoa butter, the basis on which high-quality chocolate confectionery rests. These studies are complemented by the neutron diffraction techniques using neutron reactor source at the Institut Laue Langevin, Grenoble, France. Lead researcher: A. Mahendrasingam

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Institution: University of Kent at Canterbury Department: School of Physical Sciences Head of Department: Professor P Strange URL: www.kent.ac.uk/physical-sciences Applied optics (Head of Group: Professor A G Podoleanu) Lead researchers: Professor A G Podoleanu, G Dobre High-resolution non-invasive optical imaging Optical coherence tomography (OCT) in biomedicine (particularly ophthalmology, and life sciences imaging). Low coherence interferometry and medical imaging, combining adaptive optics with OCT. Marie Curie training site in biomedical optics: training in methods and devices for non-invasive high-resolution optical measurements and imaging. OCT for art conservation. Optoelectronics, sensing and optical components Fibre optic sensing, optical modulators, nonlinear optics and lasers. Forensic research Lead researchers: C J Solomon, S Gibson Biometrics - forensic imaging specialising in the analysis of face images.

Astrophysics and planetary research (Head of Group: Professor M D Smith) Lead researchers: Professor M D Smith, M Burchell, D Froebrich, J Miao Astronomical research Star formation, protostars, young stars, clusters, molecular clouds, interstellar medium, planetary nebula, infrared astronomy, and bright-rim clouds. Numerical astrophysics, astrophysical fluid dynamics, shock wave physics, and astrophysical jets. Solar system research Early Solar System, near-Earth bodies, hypervelocity particle capture in aerogel, impact cratering on ices and planets, outer Solar System planetesimals, and the Kuiper belt. Astrobiology Origin, evolution and distribution of life in the Universe. Survivability of bacteria in impacts and panspermia. Space missions AKARI (formally ASTRO-F). An all-sky far-infrared survey launched into orbit in February 2006 led by Japan. The Spitzer Space Telescope. Functional materials (Head of Group: G Mountjoy) Lead researchers: Professor P Strange, Professor R J Newport, P Lindan, G (physics) Mountjoy Preparation of novel oxide sol-gels and glasses

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Melt-quenched glasses, sol-gel glasses, phosphate and silicate glasses, and isotopic enrichment. Characterisation of sol-gels and glasses using X-ray and neutron scattering X-ray and neutron diffraction, isotopic difference methods, x-ray absorption spectroscopy - extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), reverse Monte Carlo modelling, small-angle scattering, and inelastic neutron scattering. Molecular dynamics and ab initio modelling Molecular dynamics modelling of oxide glasses, first ab initio modelling of water on oxide crystal surfaces, ab initio modelling of carbon nanotubes, lead to detection of link between hydrogen absorption and magnetism, prediction of an entirely new class of nanostructured materials among II-VI semiconductors. Relativistic theory of condensed matter Interpretation of spectroscopy and the properties of rare earth materials. A new theory of resonant x-ray scattering in magnetic materials.

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Institution: University of Central Lancashire Department: Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics Head of Department: Professor M Holmes URL: www.uclan.ac.uk/pasm Astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor G Bromage) Solar physics Studying, observationally and theoretically, the solar atmosphere and the effect of space weather on the Earth. Work includes: space-based satellite observations from YohKoh, SOHO, and TRACE; spectroscopy of the solar atmosphere; ground-based observations of the ionosphere using EISACT radars, sophisticated Magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) simulations of the Sun's magnetically dominant corona. Lead researchers: B Bromage, R Walsh, M Marsh, A Sarkar, J Hargreaves Stellar astrophysics Studying stars and how they effect their environments. We pursue observational programmes in the x-ray, ultraviolet, optical, infrared, millimetre and radio bands. By combining photometric, spectroscopic and imaging observations we unravel the interactions between the stars and their environments, and the processes within the stars themselves. Research interests: asteroseismology, circumstellar matter, interacting binaries, pre-main sequence stars, and solar-stellar connection. Lead researchers: Professor G Bromage, Professor D Kurtz, S Eyres, B Hassall, V Elkin, L Freyhammer, K Uytterhoeven Extragalactic astrophysics Cosmology and galaxy formation, galactic chemical evolution, black holes, astrophysical sociology and international collaborations (RAVE: The RAdial Velocity Experiment and CCI: The Commonwealth Cosmology Initiative). Lead researchers: Professor B Gibson, T Cawthorne, R Clowes, A Sansom, P Ocvirk, A Sokolov Materials science (Head of Group: C Boxall)

Lead researchers: C Boxall, G Bond, A Zvelindovsky, R McCabe, A Taylor

Novel materials Nanostructured materials, liquid crystals, polymers and magnetic materials. Materials processes Microwave, catalysis, photocatalysis and related sensors and devices. Theoretical modelling Examining the properties of materials through computer modelling and applied theory.

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Institution: Lancaster University Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor P N Ratoff URL: www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/physics/physics.htm Experimental condensed matter physics (Head of Division: Professor A Krier)

Nonlinear dynamics Understanding the properties of stochastic and nonlinear dynamical systems at a fundamental level. Finding ways of predicting and controlling the dynamics of complex systems - including for example applications to lasers, the cardiovascular system, ion channels in biological membranes, and molecular motors. Currently researching: The large occasional fluctuations that are responsible for most of the interesting and important events and phenomena in (real) noisy physical systems. Deterministic chaotic motion, in particular, investigating how fluctuational escape takes place from chaotic attractors. Directed Brownian motion of ions through the ion channels in biological membranes, for example, the processes responsible for conduction of signals along nerves which most drugs are targeted. Bayesian inference to identify a stochastic nonlinear model based on the time-series of only a few noise-corrupted dynamical variables. Cardiovascular dynamics, exploring the noisy oscillatory processes through which blood is transported around the body and, in particular, trying to establish how these vary in health and disease. Lead researchers: Professor P V E McClintock, A Stefanovska, D G Luchinsky, I Khovanov. Low temperature physics Ultra-low-temperature physics We are studying the properties of the superfluid liquid 3He well below the transition temperature Tc, in a regime in which the normal fluid fraction is only about 10-5. The mean free path in the fluid becomes very long, and the quasi-particles behave ballistically. These experiments require the coldest possible temperatures, and we are using nuclear demagnetisation of copper spins to reach around 100 µK in the liquid. The properties of the fluid are probed using the mechanical resonance of a vibrating wire. Lead researchers: Professor S N Fisher, Professor A M Guenault, Professor G R Pickett, D I Bradley, and R P Haley. Superfluid 4He Three groups of experiments are being developed, using isotopically pure 4He: (i) using a fast adiabatic expansion through the lambda (superfluid) transition to model the possible production of cosmic strings in the early Universe through the Kibble mechanism; (ii) using small spherical objects (negative ‘ions’) to study several aspects of 4He superfluidity, including vortex creation in ultra-dilute superfluid 3He-4He solutions, and roton creation by exotic ions; (iii) using a new computer-controlled dilution refrigerator to investigate quantised vortex decay mechanisms in the mechanical vacuum below 100 mK. Lead researchers: Professor P V E McClintock, N S Lawson

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Solid state physics Phonon-mediated x-ray detectors Using high-resolution phonon pulse techniques to study the interaction of phonons with the superconducting electrons in superconducting tunnel junctions. Via phonon pulses we can simulate the conditions produced by photons over the energy range from below 1 keV to above 1 MeV. Such experiments lead not only to more sensitive detectors but also to better understanding of superconductivity at very low temperatures. We also do theoretical modelling of the detection processes involves many different topics in superconductivity and phonon physics, as well as studying superconducting and semiconducting bolometers. Lead researchers: Professor J K Wigmore, A G Kozorezov Surface physics and microthermal analysis Our recently patented technique known as photothermal microspectroscopy (PTMS) is being applied to cancer diagnostics, in particular to breast and prostate cancers. We have also developed the revolutionary technique of microthermal analysis for the microscopic study of thermal phenomena in solids. We also use atomic force spectroscopy to measure forces between surfaces as a function of separation, and have devised a unique nanoindentation tester. These techniques are important in the study of coatings and the surface-mechanical behaviour of powder materials. Lead researchers: A Hammiche, R Jones, O Kolosov, N S Lawson, H M Pollock Mid-infrared optoelectronics Fabrication and evaluation of efficient semiconductor light emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers and photodiodes operating in the mid-infrared. Because many hazardous gases have strong characteristic absorption bands in the mid-infrared, our devices can be readily used as the basis of portable instruments for combustible or pollutant gas detection both in industry and in the environment. Current projects: manufacturability of mid-IR LEDs and detectors for gas sensor and on-line process monitoring instrumentation; powerful mid-IR InAs LEDs and efficient detectors for gas sensing grown by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) using melt purification; and novel chemical etching techniques for the processing of InAs and its solid solutions. Lead researchers: Professor A Krier, M Hayne, Q-D Zhuang Experimental particle physics (Head of Division: R W L Jones) The division is working in collaboration with others at CERN, Fermilab and KEK using high-energy beams from large accelerators to determine the ultimate structure of matter and the basic forces of nature. We are currently working on the ATLAS, D-ZERO and T2K experiments and are also involved in accelerator R&D with the Cockroft Institute and in high-performance computing with the GridPP collaboration. Atlas collaboration (CERN) Exploring the high-energy proton-proton collision frontier (14 TeV) at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) with first data expected in 2008. Investigating the origin of electroweak symmetry breaking (Higgs mechanism or otherwise) and will search for physics beyond the Standard Model such as supersymmetry and extra spatial dimensions. Furthermore, the origin of the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe will be addressed through the observation of CP violation in the B hadron

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physics sector. The Lancaster group has been involved in the construction of the endcap silicon tracker and in high-performance Grid computing. Lead researchers: G Borissov, H Fox, R W L Jones, V Kartvelishvili D-Zero collaboration (Fermilab) Until 2008 the Tevatron will be the world’s highest energy hadron collider. The 2 TeV proton-antiproton collisions provide a wealth of data on Standard Model physics: top quark properties, B hadron physics, tests of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and the search for new physics beyond the standard model. The Lancaster group has been principally involved in computing, Monte Carlo production, offline track reconstruction algorithms and B hadron physics, including the first evidence for mixing in the neutral BS meson system. If sufficient data can be collected before the LHC reaches design luminosity levels, there is a possibility of observing a Standard Model Higgs boson. Lead researchers: Professor P N Ratoff, I A Bertram, G Borissov, H Fox, A Sopczak T2K neutrino oscillations collaboration (Japan) A low-energy off-axis neutrino beam (~ 1 GeV) produced at the JPARC laboratory on the east coast of Japan will be aimed at the underground Super-Kamiokande water Cherenkov detector 295 Km to the west. Muon type neutrinos are expected to oscillate into electron type neutrinos by the time they reach Super-Kamiokande and the observation of the electron neutrino events might allow the first measurement of the θ13 neutrino mixing angle. If this angle is large enough, it may open up the possibility of observing CP violation in the neutrino sector. The Lancaster group is building the downstream module of the electromagnetic calorimeter which is part of the ‘near detector’ located 280m from the beam source. The near detector is essential for measuring the neutrino beam flux and energy spectrum, and for studying background processes important for the electron neutrino observation measurement. Lead researchers: Professor P N Ratoff , I A Bertram, L Kormos Theoretical physics (Head of Division: Professor R W Tucker) Condensed matter theory Lead researchers: Professor V Falko, Professor C Lambert, V Cheianov, H Schomerus Superconducting nanostructures A theoretical study of the possible pairing scenarios in high-temperature superconductors using sub-gap dc transport. Carbon nanotubes The dynamical properties of hybrid nanoscale systems: carbon nanotubes, interwall sliding in multiwall carbon nanotubes, and phase coherent dynamics of nanostructures. Ferromagnetic nanostructures Rotation of magnetic moments in ferromagnetic nanostructures, supercurrent in ferro-magnet lead.

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Mathematical physics Lead researchers: Professor R W Tucker, D Burton, J Gratus Relativistic quantum field theory We have developed a new algorithm for solving the classical Cauchy problem. We have studied a number of inherently nonlinear problems including: vibrations of stiff elastic fibres and membranes, the dynamics of oil drilling, relativistic motion charged gyroscopes, the thermal properties of fast flowing viscous fluids, and problems in quantum gravity. The nature of the gravitational interaction with matter is being explored in terms of algebraic, geometrical and topological concepts. The description of time can be encoded into this language and many of the most interesting predictions of General Relativity concern behaviour of time and matter in the vicinity of spacetime singularities such as black holes or the creation of the Universe. Work is in progress to elucidate how such behaviour depends on the topological structure of spacetime and its influence on the fundamental interactions between gravitation and matter. The group has now refocused much of its effort into theoretical accelerator science as part of the Cockcroft Institute. A charged fluid model has been developed for studying the dynamics of particle bunches and synchrotron radiation effects are also being investigated. Cosmology and astroparticle physics Lead researchers: Professor D H Lyth, K Dimopoulos, J McDonald, A Mazumdar Particle cosmology (origin and nature of the primordial perturbation and cosmological perturbation theory); cosmic microwave background (CMB); quintessential inflation; primordial magnetic fields; SUSY cosmology; and the connection between baryon asymmetry and dark matter density.

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Institution: University of Leeds Department: School of Mathematics, Integrable Systems Group Head of Department: Professor D W Hughes URL: http://www. maths.leeds.ac.uk/cnls/research/integrable.html Lead researchers: O Chalykh, Professor A P Fordy, Professor A Mikhailov, Professor F Nijhoff, S Ruijsenaars Discrete Systems and Integrability The theory of difference equations has historically been less well developed than the analogous theories for differential equations. The development of rigorous analytic tools for difference equations is still in its infancy and the study of the integrability of discrete systems can provide new insights such as developing a theory of symmetries and symmetry reductions for difference equations The group studies similarity reductions of partial difference equations, their initial value problems as well as discrete analogues of the Painlevé transcendental equations. Also studied are discrete-time, many-body systems, integrable dynamical mappings and their connection to special functions both on the classical and quantum level Hamiltonian Theory and Geometry Hamiltonian theory is an important element of integrable systems, whether discrete, ordinary differential or partial differential equations. The discovery of two Poisson bracket representations of the “KdV”-equation is called the bi-Hamiltonian property and has been established for a large number of systems – it has become one of the signatures of integrability. Large families of systems with two or more compatible Poisson brackets (multi-Hamiltonians) have been discovered. Work focuses on trying to understand this proliferation of results by classifying compatible Poisson brackets and their hierarchies of equations. Researchers encounter Stäckel systems, Bäcklund transformations, reduction/embedding to a lower/higher dimensional system, Lax pairs and bi-Hamiltonian representations in the course of their work. Quantum Integrable Systems Research is focussed on two areas – the quantum field theory of discrete systems on the space-time lattice and also the investigation of quantum Bäcklund transformations. The latter involves the study of special canonical transforms and their quantum analogues which provides a powerful tool for solving finite-dimensional quantum integrable systems. Testing for Integrability A key property of integrable Partial Differential Equations is the existence of infinite hierarchies of local, infinitesimal symmetries generated by a recursion operator. Characteristic features of integrable Hamiltonian Partial Differential Equations are: multi-Hamiltonian structures and hierarchies of local conservation laws. The group studies these structures with a view to formulating constructive and highly efficient tests for integrability and even to solving the classification problem for some classes of equations – work towards a generalisation suitable for multi-dimensional equations is under way.

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Optical Fibres An ideal optical fibre allows the propagation of exact multi-soliton pulses. In real fibres, however, complications arise such as dissipation and the need for amplifiers. The team is developing a perturbation theory to account for these effects by studying the propagation of non-linear electromagnetic pulses in optical fibres with periodically-alternating dispersion. To provide low-error transmission and increase the signal-to-noise ratio, optical pulses of relatively high-amplitude should be used; this makes non-linear effects more important and requires that they are accommodated in the theoretical description.

Institution: University of Leeds Department: School of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: Professor B J Hickey URL: www.physics.leeds.ac.uk/pages Astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor T Hartquist) Active galaxies and starbursts Looking at the interplay between supernova explosions, stellar winds and star formation, and the relation of this interaction to activity in galaxies and their nuclei. Investigating the nuclear regions of active galaxies containing black holes, accretion discs and recently formed stellar clusters. Modelling of the nuclear regions where supernovae and stellar winds interact with radiatively driven nuclear winds and the very strong radiation fields produced as gas accretes onto the central black hole. Multi-dimensional numerical modelling of these interactions. Lead researchers: Professor T Hartquist, Professor J Dyson, S Lumsden, J Pittard

Cosmology and intergalactic matter Investigating the origin of cool filamentary gas in clusters of galaxies. Studying the dynamics and morphology of this material, with multi-fluid codes, to understand the past and future history of such clusters. Also looking at the evolution of active galactic nuclei (AGN) on a cosmological timescale to determine how the black hole mass evolves in luminous AGN. Lead researchers: Professor T Hartquist, S Lumsden, J Pittard

Discs around young and evolved stars Investigating circumstellar material around evolving and formed stars and in particular around massive stars. Methods used are: speckle interferometry, adaptive optics imaging at mid-infrared wavelengths, and radio studies. The discs are also studied spectroscopically (looking for spectral signatures that indicate rotation), spectropolarimetrically, and via spectro-astrometry. Investigating the remnant (debris) discs that are still visible around some Main Sequence stars as well as resulting disc-like structures around stars moving off the Main Sequence. Lead researchers: A Clarke, B Davies, M Hoare, S Lumsden Molecular astrophysics Observing molecules to study the dynamics of star-forming regions, stars at the end of their life-times, the role of molecules as a ‘coolant’ and molecular maser

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emissions. Lead researcher: Professor T Hartquist, Professor P Caselli

Planetary rings Studies of rings and spokes observed around planets like Saturn. Lead researcher: Professor T Hartquist

Star and planet formation The surrounding material. Observational programme covering optical to radio wavelengths. Theoretical research involved in star formation, such as magnetic fields and chemistry. Studying the birth of the most massive stars. Research is currently focused on determining the nature of accretion discs around massive young stars and their role in the winds and outflows that are an integral part of the star formation process. We also study the effect of these hot stars on their environments, and the effects of fast stellar winds and radiation fields on the surrounding material. Theoretical research concerns the important physical processes involved in star formation. We also use simulation techniques to investigate proto-planet and planet formation. Lead researchers: Professor T Hartquist, Professor P Caselli, Professor J Dyson, M Hoare, S Lumsden, S van Loo Stellar winds and galactic superwinds Studying mass-loss from massive stars though their power winds and outbursts. Also studying superwinds which are created when supernova remnants within star-forming regions overlap to create highly pressurised superbubbles which burst out into intergalactic space. These are important re-distributors of heavy elements, mass, and momentum, and their role in enriching and heating the intergalactic medium is attracting much attention. Lead researchers: Professor T Hartquist, Professor J Dyson, J Pittard

TeV gamma-ray astronomy We are now involved in two major VHE (very high energy) gamma-ray projects. These instruments, VERITAS in the Northern Hemisphere and H.E.S.S. (High Energy Stereoscopic System) in the South. VHE gamma-rays are associated with the acceleration and interaction of relativistic particles at energies beyond those achievable in man-made accelerators caused by the most violent and energetic phenomena at work inside our galaxy and beyond. These phenomena include the explosive deaths of stars (supernovae or hypernovae), the particle winds and shocks driven by neutron stars spinning on their axes millions of times faster than the Sun, and the superluminal jets of active galaxies powered by super-massive black holes. Gamma-ray projects: VERITAS Lead researchers: S Bradbury, J Hinton, J Knapp, J Lloyd-Evans, J Rose Ultra-high energy cosmic rays Cosmic rays from outer space. Some cosmic rays have enormous energies. How these particles are produced remains a big mystery. Cosmic rays are relativistic charged particles, such as protons or helium nuclei, hitting Earth from outer space. We investigate where they come from and how they acquire their energy. Lead researchers: Professor A Watson, J Knapp, J Lloyd-Evans Condensed matter (Head of Group: Professor B J Hickey) Spintronics and magnetic nanostructures We are currently working on magnetic materials in ultrathin film form, spin-valves and

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giant magnetoresistance, spintronic devices that involve tunnel junctions, and spin injection into semiconductors. We also work on the magnetic properties of the various parts of the devices that include magnetically biasing the reference layers, the polarisation presented at an interface by a magnetic layer and its dependence on material parameters such as roughness and intermixing. New materials are investigated by electron transport and characterised by x-ray and neutron scattering – these include oxides, superconductors and graphene. New avenues of research include using carbon nanotubes and nanowires as interconnects in lithographically patterned devices to study spintronics and quantum information applications. All our work involves many international collaborations including SPINCURRENT, SPIN@RT, ULTRASMOOTH and SFINX. Lead researchers: Professor B J Hickey, Professor D Greig, C H Marrows, and G Burnell Bulk alloys and compounds We study magnetic and superconducting phenomena in bulk alloy form, often using neutron and muon techniques. Topics include: spin-glasses; localised-itinerant moments; band structure of amorphous alloys; and amorphous magnetic alloys. Lead researchers: Professor R Cywinski, Professor D Greig Molecular and nanophysics (Head of Group: Professor S D Evans) Lead researchers: Professor S D Evans, J R Henderson, H Christenson, L J C Jeuken, N H Thomson, S Connell Planar bilayer membranes and protein-protein interactions Current research activities include: Lipid and protein manipulation using electric fields; protein manipulation using surface acoustic waves; bacterial cell wall formation and antibiotic resistance; cytoskeletal interactions with phospholipid bilayers; ion channels in suspended and supported bilayer membranes; electron transport in bilayer lipid membranes; phase separation in membranes (rafts); imaging techniques - atomic force microscopy (AFM); corneum stratum; and protein-protein interaction. Lead researchers: Professor S D Evans, S Connell, L Jeuken, N Thomson Self-assembly processes at surfaces These find application in nanotechnology and bionanotechnology, as well as providing an insight into some fundamental aspects of molecular interactions at surfaces. A common theme is the application of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) technology for the provision of well-defined surfaces. Lead researcher: Professor S D Evans Nanoparticles and nanowires Current researching: Template grown semiconductor wires; 4-probe measurements on nanowires; multilayer / junction nanowires; and nanowire and particle deposition within viruses. Lead researcher: Professor S D Evans Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) The formation of patterned self-assembled monolayers, particularly in the development of photo-cleavable or photo-addition systems. Currently researching into: high-resolution photopatterning; multi-component SAMs; and applications (bio-attachment, directed assembly, and crystal growth). Lead researcher: Professor S D Evans

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Liquid state physics Statistical mechanical theories based on molecular properties (such as intermolecular forces and molecular shape) are used to understand the properties of adsorption and the interaction of fluids at surfaces and one-dimensional self-assembly. Lead researcher: J R Henderson Liquid crystals We are using patterned self-assembled monolayers to control liquid crystal anchoring and alignment. Using evanescent wave techniques we have mapped a phase diagram of the anchoring behaviour which has led to improved understanding and control over the behaviour of liquid crystals at solid interfaces. We are currently investigating nanoscale patterning on surface anchoring. Lead researcher: Professor S D Evans Liquids in confined geometries Phase behaviour in confinement involving phenomena such as capillary condensation and capillary melting. Lead researcher: H Christenson Polymers and complex fluids (Head of Group: Professor T C B McLeish) Lead researchers: Professor T C B McLeish, Professor P D Olmsted, Professor I M Ward, D B Adolf, R M L Evans, S A Harris, P J Hine, M E Ries, E Sivaniah, and A M Voice Macromolecular dynamics Entangled dynamics and rheology; local dynamics in blends and heterogeneous fluids at high pressure; dynamics of hyper-branched molecules and dendrimers; local modes in glassy polymers; molecular dynamics and predictive polymer processing; interpretation of neutron scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for polymer dynamics; and experimental and theoretical NMR in flow. Complex fluids Surfactant fluids and shear-induced phase transitions; bio-macromolecules and membranes; and protein folding and unfolding; and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Gels and networks Polyacrylamide and polyelectrolyte gels; rheology and dynamics under external fields; diffusion of small molecules in polymers and barrier properties; phenomena of critical gelation; and deformation and orientation in networks. Ionically conductive polymers and polymer electrolyte gels; electroactive gels; and dielectric relaxation. Nanocomposites and multi-phase polymeric materials Two-phase solids and microphase separating fluids; advanced semi-crystalline composites; orientation and morphology in composites; macromolecular crystallisation and morphology; flow-induced crystallisation; and dynamics in the gel and crystal state. Biological physics Protein folding and unfolding; numerical simulation of DNA and polypeptides; protein and nucleotide dynamics; peptide fibrillation and aggregation; membrane physics; and theory of evolution.

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Quantum information (Head of Group: Professor V Vedral) Lead researchers: Professor V Vedral, Professor B Varcoe, A Beige, J Dunningham, J Pachos, and W Son The Group's main research interests are in quantum information and quantum computation. Encoding information into quantum systems (such as atoms and photons) has two advantages - information becomes more compact (quantum systems are physically smaller) and it can be processed much faster than any existing computer would allow. In addition, information encoded into quantum systems can be made more secure than any form of classical communication by using quantum cryptography. We work in the following experimental areas: the micromaser, electromagnetically induced transparency, and tests of Lorentz invariance. We study the following theoretical areas: Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC); cluster state quantum computation; entanglement in many-body systems; foundations of quantum mechanics; generalised entropies and statistical mechanics; geometric and topological phases; optical and solid-state implementations of quantum information processing; quantum algorithms; quantum limited imaging; quantum optics and cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED); and topological quantum computation.

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Institution: University of Leicester Department: Department of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: Professor M A Barstow URL: www.le.ac.uk/physics/index.shtml Condensed matter physics (Head of Group: Professor C Binns) Cluster assembled materials (novel magnetic materials assembled from nanoclusters) (Head of Group: Professor C Binns) Lead researchers: Professor C Binns, S Baker, M Everard, K von Haeften Magnetic nanoclusters The novel electronic and magnetic properties of nanoclusters. Preparation of cluster-assembled materials, in which clusters are embedded in a matrix of another material, prepared by co-deposition from a molecular beam of the matrix material and an intense size-selected cluster beam. This technique allows independent control of the cluster size and volume filling fraction, which leads to significant flexibility in the production of new magnetic materials. We have designed and built a gas aggregation cluster source which produces high fluxes of magnetic nanoclusters under ultra-high vacuum conditions. NANOSPIN A project to manufacture and study the behaviour of magnetic nanoparticles comprising a core and multiple-shells. These so-called nano-onions have far ranging applications in magnetic recording, quantum devices and medical nanotechnology. NANOCASE An EU funded project to study the Casimir force which arises directly from the quantum zero point energy of the vacuum. The ultimate goal of the project is to use the Casimir force to produce a contactless transmission in a nanomachine. Targeted Therapies Using Nanoparticles In collaboration with the chemistry department a project has been initiated to investigate the effectiveness of magnetic nanoparticles in targeted hyperthermal cancer treatments. A new cluster source has been built that can deposit gas-phase metal nanoparticles into liquids and these will then be conjugated with targeting molecules such as antibody fragments, aptamers and peptides to seek out structures specific to tumour cells and kill the attached cell by heat induced in the nanoparticle by an external oscillating magnetic field. Quantum theory of semiconductor nanostructures (calculation of the electronic properties of nanostructures) (Head of Group: Professor P A Maksym) Lead researchers: Professor P A Maksym M Roy Self-assembled quantum dots We are studying self-assembled dots which will have important applications in optoelectronics and optical quantum information technology. We have developed a reliable dot model which will have the predictive power needed to design dot-based optoelectronic devices. Carbon nanotube quantum dots Research is focused on understanding the interacting few-electron states in a

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nanotube quantum dot. We are developing theoretical models which can be used to predict device performance and explore spin-dependent phenomena that could be exploited to make new and exotic devices. Electrostatically confined quantum dots Our work centres on correlation effects in a magnetic field. We have developed software for calculating correlated electron and hole states and applied it to study strong correlation in electrostatically confined systems. Our work has shown that confined electrons in a strong magnetic field behave like an electron molecule that rotates and vibrates inside the quantum dot and we have found that this picture is able to predict electron energies to an accuracy of about 1 part in 10000. Soft condensed matter (system at the biology-physics interface) Lead researchers: S J Gurman, P Howes, J Grigg Toxicology of manufactured nanoparticles Studying the effect of nano-particle pollution on lung cells (alviolar macrophages) Extended fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) This is a powerful and versatile technique which we use to study the local atomic structure within a vast array of systems. We are investigating gold nanoparticles produced by Germanium roots, and also studying the efficiency of some plants, typically seaweed, at removing heavy metals from polluted soils. We also study the structural response of electrochemically modified transition metal oxide films using EXAFS. Finally, on the theoretical side, we use reverse Monte Carlo simulation methods for the analysis of surface x-ray diffraction data. Earth observation science (Head of Group: J J Remedios) Lead researchers: J Remedios, H Bösch, D Llewllyn-Jones, N Arnold, P Monks, G Corlett The Advanced Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR) A space-borne instrument primarily designed to measure global sea surface temperature to the high levels of accuracy and stability required for climate research and modelling. The Michaelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) This is a Fourier transform infra-red spectrometer capable of retrieving atmospheric parameters and profiles of dozens of trace species in the infrared. The Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) This is an imaging spectrometer whose primary mission objectives are global measurements of trace gases in the troposphere and in the stratosphere. Using innovative techniques carbon dioxide concentrations are being retrieved from this instrument. Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere (MOPITT) This is an instrument flying on NASA's EOS Terra spacecraft, measuring the global distributions of carbon monoxide and methane in the troposphere.

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Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) This measures top of the atmosphere total flux derived from the measured total irradiance. These measurements of the Earth radiation budget assist in global climate modelling. Concurrent Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (CMAX-DOAS) This gives multi-axis measurements of trace species concentrations from a ground-based instrument, proving technologies and techniques for future space missions. Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) A mission studying the atmosphere, the land and the oceans of Earth for an accurate and reliable weather forecast. Composition and chemistry of the Earth’s atmosphere The group carries out studies of the global distribution of greenhouse gases, their sources and sinks, and the impact of clouds on radiative transfer. Future work will involve use of observations from the NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) and the JAXA GOSAT space missions, which will be launched in late 2008. Radio and space plasma physics (Head of Group: Professor S W H Cowley) Lead researchers: Professor S W H Cowley, Professor M Lester, Professor T R Robinson, N F Arnold, S E Milan, T S Stallard, D M Wright, and T K Yeoman Researching into the outer environments of Earth and the planets, specifically solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere interactions using the following research facilities and techniques: Space Plasma Exploration by Active Radar (SPEAR) A high-power radar built by the Group and deployed at Longyearbyen, Svalbard, to probe the auroral ionosphere and high-latitude magnetosphere using unique active experiments. Co-operative UK Twin Located Auroral Sounding System (CUTLASS) A pair of high-frequency coherent radars in Finland and Iceland with a common viewing area over northern Scandinavia and Svalbard to study flows in the high-latitude ionosphere; and forms part of the international SuperDARN array. European Incoherent SCATter facility (EISCAT) An internationally-supported incoherent scatter radar facility sited in Scandinavia and Svalbard which is used to make detailed measurements in the polar ionosphere, including that perturbed by SPEAR. Cluster and THEMIS space missions Earth-orbiting space missions making detailed field and plasma observations in the Earth’s outer environment coordinated with ground-based radar observations. Cassini space mission The first spacecraft to be placed in orbit around Saturn, making detailed observations relevant to solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere interactions at the planet. Planetary auroral observations Use of ground-based telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope to observe outer

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planet auroras at infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, in conjunction with observations by Cassini. Computer modelling of the atmosphere Use of a range of computational models to study solar influences on the structure and dynamics of the Earth’s atmosphere. Theoretical studies Theoretical and modelling work relevant across the range of the above research areas. Space projects and instruments (Head of Group: Professor G W Fraser) Lead researchers: Professor G W Fraser, R M Ambrosi, N P Bannister, J Bridges, E Bunce, J S Lapington, J E Lees, J Pye, M R Sims, M F Smith, and T Stevenson. (Joint with X-ray and Observational Astronomy – Professor M A Barstow, Professor M J L Turner, R Willingale) The Group is engaged in laboratory research into novel sensors and optics, technology studies, and flight instrument development for high-energy astrophysics, planetary science, Earth observation science (jointly with the Earth Observation Science Group) and studies of the aurorae of the Earth, Jupiter and Saturn (jointly with the Radio and Space Plasma Physics Group). High-energy astrophysics Astrosat Collaboration with the Tata Institute (Mumbai) for the construction of the Soft X-ray Telescope’s focal plane CCD camera, Astrosat, due for launch in 2008, (India’s first national x-ray astronomy mission). Swift A NASA medium explorer (MIDEX) mission launched in 2004 for the study of gamma ray bursts (GRBs). Collaboration with Penn State University (USA) and several Italian groups for the production of the Swift X-ray Telescope’s CCD focal plane x-ray camera. Wide Field X-ray Telescope An extremely sensitive x-ray all-sky monitor with very large aperture optics based on those found in the eyes of a lobster. Currently under development for the Russian Spectrum Rontgen Gamma mission (2011). XEUS ESA's X-ray Evolving Universe Spectrometer (XEUS) is a large observatory currently proposed within the framework of Cosmic Visions. Members of the Group are involved in the definition of mission science goals and in aspects of telescope design. XEUS is the successor to the current XMM-Newton and Chandra X-ray observatories, both of which carry Leicester hardware. Faulkes Telescope spectrographs The Faulkes Telescope project consists of two 2m telescopes exclusively for educational use by students in the UK, Hawaii and Australia. Spectrographs for the

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telescopes were built at Leicester in collaboration with the University of Manchester and Liverpool John Moores University. Planetary science Beagle 2 The lander for ESA's Mars Express mission (2003). Beagle 2 was designed to look for life and conduct geochemical analysis on Mars and was the Group’s entry point into planetary science. BepiColombo Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS) The Group leads an international team developing a dual-channel instrument for x-ray fluorescence mapping of the surface of the planet Mercury. BepiColombo is an ESA/ JAXA mission due for launch in 2013. EXOMARS The Group is at the forefront of the development of instrumentation for the flagship mission of the ESA Aurora programme to explore the Solar System. Other missions: Within Cosmic Visions, Group members participate in studies of Jupiter and Europa, and Dune Express. Within the Chinese space science programme, we have involvements in instrument definition for the lunar rover Cheng E2 and lead the Wide-Field Auroral Imager (Professor M Lester (RSPP) PI) for the polar orbiting satellites Kuafu B1, B2. Earth observation Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) 1-4 These instruments, the first of which was launched on Eumetsat’s Meteosat Second Generation satellite MSG-1 in 2002, will measure over a long period the balance between incoming radiation from the Sun and outgoing radiation from the Earth. Laboratory studies A long-established and well-resourced programme includes: microchannel plate (MCP) detectors and optics; solid state (CCD and other) x-ray detectors; novel dichroic filters as x-ray polarimeters; x-ray interferometry; imaging x-ray fluorescence spectrometery; gamma-ray techniques for measurement of planetary regolith density; novel dust and space debris detectors; neutron imaging; modelling and measurement of radiation effects on sensors; modelling of the aurorae of Jupiter and Saturn; applications of space instrumentation in other fields, particularly the life sciences and medicine where the in-house Bioimaging Unit and a spin-off company BioAstral Ltd are both active. Theoretical astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor A King) Lead researchers: Professor A King, Professor W Dehnen, G Wynn, S Nayakshin, G Lodato, M Wilkinson Our main theoretical research fields are astrophysical accretion on to black holes,

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and stellar and galaxy dynamics. Matter falling into a black hole releases more energy per gram than any other process. Accordingly black holes accreting matter from their surroundings must be the engines powering the most luminous sources in the Universe. These objects include quasars and gamma-ray bursters. The centre of almost every galaxy contains a black hole with a mass many million times that of the Sun. The black hole has a major effect on the nature of the galaxy which hosts it. We study the processes that feed the black hole with gas, and the resulting high-energy phenomena. We also study accreting black hole in other contexts such as x-ray binary systems and gamma-ray bursters. How galaxies work is another subject of great current interest. In particular, astronomers know that most of the gravitating mass of a galaxy is so-called ‘dark matter’. Unlike normal matter, dark matter appears to interact mainly or entirely via gravitation alone. Its nature is still unknown. We study how stars orbit within galaxies in order to deduce further properties of the dark matter. We have a long-standing interest in computational astrophysics, using supercomputers for this purpose. We are the host site for the UK Astrophysical Fluids Facility (UKAFF). Our work is closely linked with the X-ray and Observational Astronomy group, taking advantage of their involvement in Chandra, XMM-Newton and other space missions. X-ray and observational astronomy (Head of Group: Professor R Warwick) Lead researchers: Professor R Warwick, Professor M Barstow, Professor K Pounds, Professor N Tanvir, Professor M Turner, Professor M Watson, M Burleigh, M Goad, R Jameson, P O’Brien, G Stewart, S Vaughan, R Willingale. The research programme of the X-ray and Observational Astronomy Group encompasses a wide range of topics in modern astrophysics. Studies are carried out into: the cosmic x-ray background radiation, black holes, quasars, active and normal galaxies, accreting binaries, supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, the interstellar medium, white and brown dwarf stars, and extra-solar planets. The programme in high-energy astrophysics exploits the full potential of ESA’s XMM-Newton and NASA’s Chandra observatories, which provide start-of-the-art facilities for studies of the x-ray radiation emitted by cosmic sources. Studies of new mission concepts, such as those relating to the Lobster-eye Wide Field Telescope (LWFT), XEUS and India’s Astrosat are also carried out. The group is home to key project teams such as the XMM-Newton Survey Science Centre and the highly successful UK Swift Science Data Centre. Swift makes prompt multi-wavelength observations of gamma-ray bursts and their associated after-glows and the UK team helps to analyse these data and disseminate the information quickly to astronomers around the world. Observations in the ultraviolet, optical and infrared wavebands are vital to the follow-up studies of cosmic x-ray sources. These wavelength regions are also crucial for the programmes on white and brown dwarf stars and for the on-going searches for extra-solar planets. In this context the programme relies on facilities such as the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA’s Spitzer infrared telescope, the GALEX mission, the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescopes (VLTs), the two Gemini 8m telescopes, as well as many of the smaller observatories around the

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globe. The Group is heavily involved in the world’s largest and deepest infra-red sky survey (UKIDDS) and hosts the data archive of the SuperWasp survey, which is searching for extra-solar planets by the transit method. Looking to the future, ESA’s GAIA mission, the NASA/ESA James Webb Space Telescope and in ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope project will figure prominently in the programme.

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Institution: University of Liverpool Department: Department of Mathematical Sciences Head of Division: Professor Ian Jack URL: http://www.liv.ac.uk/Maths/TheorPhys/RESEARCH/theoretical-physics.html Division of Theoretical Physics Lattice Gauge Theory Lead researchers: Professor A Irving, Professor C Michael, P Rakow The group is actively involved in the national lattice gauge theory collaboration “UKQCD” and has access to the collaboration's 7-Teraflop QCDOC machine installed in 2005 which allows world-class computations in non-perturbative Quantum Chromo-Dynamics (QCD). The main current study is of hadronic spectra of both standard and exotic particles together with matrix elements relevant to hadronic decays and other standard model processes. String Phenomenology Lead researchers: Professor A Faraggi, T Mohaupt, R Tatar The group works in the following areas: the unification of fundamental matter and interactions; string theory - phenomenological and cosmological implications; physics beyond the standard model; collider phenomenology; foundations of quantum mechanics and quantum gravity; black holes; cosmology; particle physics; mathematical physics and supersymmetric field theories. Gauge Field Theories and Phenomenology Lead researchers: Professor A Faraggi, Professor J Gracey, Professor I Jack, Professor T Jones, T Teubner, Professor A Vogt Members of the group are active in both phenomenological and formal applications of quantum field theory. Work has been conducted in areas such as: precision particle mass spectrum calculations; perturbative QCD including 3-loop calculations of QCD in various gauges; particle physics phenomenology; non-anticommutative supersymmetry; the development of an equivalence postulate approach to quantum mechanics.

Institution: University of Liverpool Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor R McGrath URL: www.liv.ac.uk/physics High-energy physics (Head of Group: Professor P Allport) Lead researchers: Professor P P Allport, Professor T J V Bowcock, Professor J B Dainton, Professor E Gabathuler, Professor T Greenshaw, A Affolder, J R Fry, G R Court, R Gamut, M A Houlden, D E

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Hutchcroft, J N Jackson, M Klein, U Klein, N McCauley, A Mehta, T Shears, C Touramanis, J H Vossebeld, and A Wolski Origin of mass We are addressing the quest for the origin of mass through two programmes: Through the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) then ATLAS, we search for the Higgs boson and aim to measure its dominant decays, although the International Linear Collider (ILC) will be needed to fully test whether the Higgs mechanism provides an explanation for the fermion masses. We are pursuing detector and accelerator R&D for the ILC. At HERA, using high-energy e-p scattering, we probe the short-distance structure and dynamics of hadronic physics, and elucidate the mechanisms which govern the nature, origin and evolution of the visible mass in the Universe. Grand Unification (including gravity) and dark matter The issues of Grand Unification (including gravity) and of dark matter will be addressed by us through searches at the Tevatron (CDF) then at the LHC (ATLAS) for evidence of new physics, with particular emphasis on supersymmetry as the theoretically preferred framework for addressing both of these fundamental questions. Dominance of matter over anti-matter We are addressing the issue of the dominance of matter over anti-matter through key measurements at BaBar and CDF in the b-quark sector, to be followed by measurements of even greater precision for most channels at LHCb. Should leptogenesis provide the basis for the observed matter anti-matter asymmetry in the Universe, our neutrino programme (which also addresses another PPARC priority, understanding neutrino mass) will seek to find experimental evidence for this, firstly through the T2K experiment and then through participation in the Neutrino Factory. Developing the next generation of particle physics experiments We have played the key role in establishing the Cockcroft Institute for accelerator science, and have sought to engage in R&D projects aimed towards developing detectors for the next generation of particle accelerators. We have been able to enhance our research in these areas through close collaboration with industry. Nuclear physics (Head of Group: Professor P Nolan) Lead researchers: Professor P A Butler, Professor P J Twin, Professor R D Herzberg, Profesor P J Nolan, A J Boston, M Chartier, D T Joss, R D Page, E S Paul Experimental nuclear physics Spectroscopy of superheavy nuclei The investigation of in-beam and decay spectroscopy on very heavy nuclei. So far the nuclides 252, 253, 254No, 250Fm and 255Lr have been studied. One major result is the confirmation of the expected strong deformation of nuclei in this region with a maximum at the neutron number N=152. The SACRED electron spectrometer designed by the Liverpool group, used in conjunction with the recoil separator RITU in Jyväskylä, will be used to study odd-mass nuclei in-beam. We will also observe the decay of radioactive products (alpha particles, protons, conversion electrons, x-rays and gamma-rays) at the focal plane of recoil separators such as RITU. The use of this spectrometer will allow measurements be made of low-lying states in even-

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even and odd mass superheavy nuclei, as well as measurements of long-lived high-K states that hold the key to the structure of superheavy nuclei. Nuclei at the extremes of angular momentum Research includes: the return of collective rotation in erbium nuclei at ultra high spin; nuclear structure studies of neutron-deficient nuclei; terminating bands and octupole effects in the mass 110 region; superdeformation in the mass 130 region, signature inversion in doubly odd nuclei; and chirality in nuclei. Nuclear shape coexistence The ground states of lead nuclei are spherical because they contain 82 protons, which is a ‘magic number’. However, in very proton-rich lead nuclei, pairs of protons can be more easily excited into levels above the shell gap to produce oblate and prolate configurations that coexist at low excitation energies close to the spherical ground states. We are studying the interplay between these coexisting structures in lead isotopes and in elements from osmium to polonium where two of the shapes (oblate and prolate) are found as well as triple shape coexistence in the neutron-deficient even-mass Pb isotopes. Programmes include: in-beam and decay measurements at Jyväskylä using target arrays such as SACRED and JUROGAM with RITU; the focal plane spectrometer GREAT; isomer decay spectroscopy of nuclear fragments separated using the FRS at GSI; the RISING project; and research that exploits the radioactive beams from ISOLDE at CERN. N = Z Nuclei - Gamma-ray spectroscopy with radioactive ion beams We study excited states of nuclei near 100Sn using gamma-ray spectroscopy to produce information on residual interactions and correlations for systems near the doubly closed shell. We also study neutron deficient nuclei near N = Z in the mass 40-80 region and approaching N = Z in the mass 100-140 region. Research is done at GANIL (SPIRAL) and studied using EXOGAM (gamma-ray spectrometer) and VAMOS (versatile recoil spectrometer). A technique of Coulomb excitation of the exotic nuclei as they pass through a target foil at both sub-Coulomb and relativistic energies is being developed for GANIL, CERN and the FRS. N = Z Nuclei - Mass measurements at GANIL N = Z binding energy; Wigner term; Mass measurements of N = Z = 40-50 up to 100Sn; masses measurements of very exotic nuclei using the new CIME cyclotron of SPIRAL; and GANIL cyclotron. Neutron rich nuclei Radioactivity of neutron rich light nuclei using the LISE3 spectrometer at GANIL. Mass measurements of very neutron-rich nuclei close to the drip line to investigate the quenching of shellgaps and the appearance of new magic numbers around N = 16, 20, 28, 34 and 40. Rapid neutron-capture nucleosynthesis r-process. Study of light neutron-rich nuclei by elastic and inelastic scattering and transfer reactions. Nucleon-removal technique with in-flight separated radioactive beams from fragmentation reactions. Spectroscopy of light neutron-rich nuclei by neutron knockout reactions. Proton rich nuclei Studying proton-rich (or neutron-deficient) nuclei in the mass 110 and 130 region. Recoil decay tagging. Proton-rich nuclei production using proton-rich radioactive ion beams. Heavy octupole nuclei

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Nuclear instrumentation developments and current projects EXOGAM, GREAT, SACRED, UK Gamma-ray Tracking project, AGATA, ACTAR, EXL, R3B, Gammapool, SAGE, EURISOL design study EURISOL design study Task 10 (physics and instrumentation), INTAG, and EURONS. Condensed matter physics (Head of Group: Professor R McGrath) Lead researchers: Professor P Weightman, S D Barrett, J Goff, C A Lucas, D Martin, R McGrath, and M Thomas Surface science Chirality in two-dimensions; rare-earth metal surfaces; heterogeneous enantioselective catalysis; structure and dynamics of surfaces; synchrotron surface science facilities; catalysis at nanoparticles; dynamics at surfaces; keeping track of electrons at the nanoscale, in-situ studies of the solid-liquid interface; organic molecule adsorption; quasicrystal surfaces; fast processes of protein folding; and chemicurrents and electronic non-adiabaticity. Lead researchers: Professor Raval, S Barratt, S Barlow, G Darling, V Dhanak, S Haq, A Hodgson, Professor W Hofer, Professor S Holloway, C Lucas, D Martin, Professor R Nichols, Professor R McGrath, Professor M Persson, and M Volk Nanoscale and surface physics In-situ x-ray diffraction of electrochemical systems This is a critical tool for determining the potential stability of specific surface structures in electrolyte under reaction conditions. A recent highlight is the observation of an ordered CO monolayer at the electrochemical interface and the structural changes that occur in this monolayer as CO-oxidation occurs. Lead researcher: C Lucas Metal surfaces, oxide formation and nanoparticles STM and x-ray diffraction experiments to probe the oxidation of Ni single crystals and the oxidation/reduction reaction in thin hydrous-oxide Ni films. The application of reflection anisotropy (RAS) to study the electronic structure at the solid-liquid interface. The combination of this technique with STM (scanning tunnelling microscopy) and x-ray scattering to understand complex surfaces and interfaces. Lead researchers: Professor R McGrath, Professor P Weightman, and C Lucas Electronic structure of metal alloy and semiconductor surfaces and interfaces The theory of disordered alloys (the coherent potential approximation (CPA)); relating Auger spectral profiles to local electronic structure particularly in establishing the validity of the Cini-Sawatzky theory and in extending the Hubbard Hamiltonian to include off-site interactions; the Madelung energy and Madelung potential in disordered systems; and the determination of the activation level of a d-doped layer in a semiconductor using electron spectroscopy. Lead researcher: Professor P Weightman Quasicrystal surfaces Preparation of quasicrystals, which are trimetallic alloys that have unusual crystal symmetries. Lead researcher: Professor R McGrath, Professor P Weightman, and S Barrett

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Tailored surfaces Surface structure of oxides; alkali atoms to promote chemical reactivity and modify surface stress; and sulphur as a passivator of semiconductor and alloy surfaces. Lead researchers: Professor R McGrath and C Lucas Rare-earth metal surfaces The behaviour of the electrons in rare-earth metals; synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy experiments; and probing the geometric and electronic structures of rare-earth based systems. Lead researcher: S Barrett Development of Reflection Anisotropy Spectroscopy (RAS) RAS can provide information about the electronic structure of a material and also the geometric structure at the nanoscopic or microscopic scale. Lead researchers: Professor P Weightman, D Martin and S Barrett Nanomagnetism Surface magnetism of the rare-earth metals; and the influence of nanostructured surfaces on magnetic systems. Lead researcher: S Barrett Nanostructure assembly and quantum confinement Vicinal and stepped surfaces are to be exploited as templates for metallic and molecular nanostructure assembly. These surfaces can result in the confinement of surface electronic states. This will facilitate the study, modification and control of electronic surface states in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and under liquids. Lead researchers: Professor P Weightman, D Martin, and S Barrett Quantum magnetism and magnetic multilayers The focus of research in magnetism is the study of how the structure of magnetic materials influences magnetic properties and behaviour. Thin films of magnetic materials or multilayers of magnetic/non-magnetic metals can have their magnetic behaviour influenced by layer thickness, crystalline phase grown, and strain between juxtaposed crystalline layers. Such influences affect magnetic ordering temperature, magnetic axis, magnetic coupling of magnetic layers through a non-magnetic layer. Phenomena connected to this are giant magneto resistance (GMR) and magnetic properties of recording media (bit size, magnetic anisotropy). The development of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has enabled the controlled growth of single-crystal layered structures with almost atomic-plane precision. As a consequence it is possible to introduce artificial periodicity and create superlattice structures, potentially with tailor-made physical properties. The research programme uses magnetic multilayers in new approaches to some of the canonical problems in condensed matter physics, including the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity, intermediate-valence behaviour, the influence of the surface on phase transitions, and quantum confinement within thin layers. Research themes are as follows: the magnetic behaviour of U/Fe multilayer systems; magnetic superlattices; magnetic multilayers; and quantum magnetism. Lead researchers: J Goff and M Thomas Cellular and molecular biophysics The determination of the physical principles which control the molecular assembly of DNA and protein systems at metal/liquid interfaces on the nanoscale. The study of biological systems requires techniques that can provide information on a liquid

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environment. Reflection anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS), when combined with expertise in electrochemistry, scanning probe microscopy and synchrotron-based surface x-ray diffraction techniques has great potential for the study of molecular assembly at metal/liquid interfaces. Research themes are as follows: self-assembly of simple and functional organic molecules at surfaces; protein interactions at surfaces; molecular electronics; and bacterial biofilm formation. Lead researchers: Professor P Weightman and D Martin Accelerator science based at the Cockcroft Institute

The objectives of the Institute are to develop a major international presence in research and development in accelerator science and technology with four broad themes: electron-positron colliders; proton and ion accelerators including neutrino beams; photon sources; and neutron sources

The Institute is establishing long-term international collaborations with accelerator institutes through a visitor programme and through participation in joint projects.

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Institution: Liverpool John Moores University Department: The Astrophysics Research Institute Head of Department: Professor M Bode URL: www.astro.livjm.ac.uk/index.shtml Time Variable Astronomy (Head of Group: Professor M Bode) Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) Observational investigations of GRBs; rapid follow-up observations, polarisation studies; theoretical investigations of GRBs; the GRB-supernovae connection. Lead researchers: D Bersier, C Mundell, and S Kobayashi Fundamental properties of novae Observations of novae stellar explosions: recurrent and classical novae; galactic novae; RS Ophiuchi; extragalactic novae; and The Liverpool Extragalactic Nova Survey. Lead researchers: M Bode, M Darnley, and A Newsam Robonet RoboNet makes use of three identical 2m optical telescopes that are placed in La Palma (Spain), Maui (United States), and Siding Springs (Australia). Science drivers include: GRBs; the search for extra-solar planets; and microlensing events. Lead researchers: M Bode and M Burgdorf e-Science Telescopes for Astronomical Research (eSTAR) Underpinning the RoboNet concept is the eSTAR project which is developing essential web-based tools for the operation of telescope networks and the application of new grid and web service technologies Lead researchers: M Bode, M Burgdorf, and I Steele Properties and evolution of galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGN) (Head of Group: Professor D Carter) Galaxy evolution, environment and stellar populations The evolution of galaxies and galaxy clusters; the fossil record of star formation in nearby galaxies; the evolution of brightest cluster galaxies; the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Coma Cluster Survey; the XMM Cluster Survey, the H alpha Galaxy Survey; the Sloan Digital Sky Survey; near infrared properties of intermediate age populations; spiral galaxy halos; and nuclear properties of galaxies. Lead researchers: I Baldry, C Collins, D Carter, P James, W Maciejewski, and M Mouhcine

Stellar population modelling The interpretation of photometric and spectroscopic observations of resolved and unresolved stellar populations as a fundamental tool to investigate the formation and evolution of galaxies; stellar evolution models and isochrones; synthetic colour-magnitude diagrams; chemical composition in different galaxy morphological types; and downloadable models from the BaSTI (Bag of Stellar Tricks and Isochrones). Lead researcher: M Salaris

Active galactic nuclei Obscured and unobscured accretion in the Universe; dynamics and evolution of active galaxies; and the 2-degree Field Quasar Survey. Lead researchers: W Maciejewski, C Mundell, C Simpson, and R Smith

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Other research topics Star formation Triggered star formation in molecular clouds; high-mass star formation; the JCMT Plane Survey and Spectral Legacy Survey; SCUBA-2 All-Sky Survey; massive young stellar objects; and numerical simulations. Lead researcher: T Moore Microlensing Probing the nature of dark matter; mass distribution in galaxies; pixel microlensing survey of the Andromeda Galaxy (Angstrom Project); and microlensing search for planets. Lead researchers: M Bode, M Burgdorf, M Darnley, A Newsam, and I Steele Open clusters and the distance scale Cosmological distance ladder; Cepheid distance scale; Hubble constant; galactic open clusters; distance to the Large Magellanic Clouds (LMC); ages of open clusters – implications for galaxy formation; and the Pleiades distance problem. Lead researchers: S Percival and M Salaris Astronomical technology The Liverpool Telescope; optical and infrared imaging; spectroscopy; and polarimtery. Lead researchers: D Carter and I Steele

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Universities in LONDON Institution: Imperial College London Department: Department of Mathematics Head of Department: Professor John Elgin URL: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/ammp/research/mathphys Mathematical Physics Lead researchers: Professor Y Chen, Professor A Parry, Professor H Jensen, R Jacobs, A Hewson, Professor A Gogolin, D Edwards The Mathematical Physics group is interested in the theory of condensed matter; statistical physics; complexity; biophysics; and random matrices. Quantum Magnetism The magnetic aspect of the electron has recently given rise to the new field of spin electronics. The group has been strongly involved in the theory of magnetic multilayers which exhibit giant magnetoresistance and have applications as sensors of magnetic fields, e.g., in reading a magnetic disk. Recent work on colossal magnetoresistance in manganite materials combines earlier expertise with the theory of strongly correlated electrons. One-dimensional Quantum Systems The main focus of attention is on one-dimensional quantum systems such as disordered spin chains and quantum wires. This has applications to the multi-channel “Kondo” problem and its realisation in quantum dots which exhibit peculiar, non-Fermi-liquid behaviour. Statistics of Quantum Spectra The behaviour of large random matrices is studied through the average eigenvalue distributions and the distributions of the spacings between the eigenvalues; this is brought about by treating the eigenvalues as particles in a charged fluid. The theory finds applications in quantum chaos, nuclear physics, and integrable systems. Renormalization Group Methods for Correlated Systems Researchers work on the development and application of renormalization group methods (both analytical and numerical) to strong correlation problems – heavy fermion systems, high-temperature superconductors. Current work focuses on the Mott metal-insulator transition in the Hubbard model using this approach. Nonlinear Dynamical Systems Complex systems display a wide variety of nonlinear dynamics including chaotic behaviour and various types of self-organisation. Interest lies primarily in understanding how these phenomena arise from the underlying nonlinearity. Specific systems studied are: nonlinear earthquake models; models of glassy systems; and first-order phase transitions such as three-dimensional melting. Statistical Physics of Dynamical Systems Statistical mechanics is about understanding why the whole is different from the sum of the parts: understanding how the combined effect of simple interactions and many degrees of freedom creates the never ending complexity we observe in our surroundings. Research work includes the study of models of biological evolution; fungal growth; flux lines in type-two superconductors; and self-organised criticality.

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Critical Phenomena at Interfaces A fundamental problem in statistical mechanics is the development of a microscopic theory of phase transitions in systems that are strongly inhomogeneous, e.g., the interface between solid-and-liquid or liquid-and-vapour is characterised by an enormous change in density over a microscopic scale. New kinds of phase transitions are possible and are being investigated by applying techniques such as the renormalization group.

Institution: Imperial College London Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor DDC Bradley Associate Head of Department: K Weir Director of Postgraduate Studies: Professor L Cohen MSc in Optics and Photonics: K Weir MSc in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces: Professor J Halliwell URL: www.imperial.ac.uk/physics Astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor K Nandra) Stars, supernovae and circumstellar matter Stellar astrophysics covering such topics as the solar-stellar connection, cool stars, hot stars, young stars at all masses, accretion disk winds, binary star evolution, surveying the galactic plane in H-alpha. Lead researchers: Professor J Drew and Y Unruh Near infrared surveys Searches for high-redshift quasars and galaxies, the epoch of re-ionisation, galaxy-galaxy strong lensing, gravitational lens inversion, and cool brown dwarfs. Lead researcher: S Warren Infrared and submillimetre astronomy Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) analysis, The UK SCUBA Survey, Planck High Frequency Instrument (HFI), Herschel – SPIRE (Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver), ASTRO-F, and SPICA. Lead researcher: Professor M Rowan-Robinson Galactic dark matter search Direct dark matter searches using specialised particle detectors in our deep underground laboratory. The best motivated candidate particles are those predicted by supersymmetry and a positive detection would be of profound importance for both cosmology and particle physics. Involved in ZEPLIN II, and leading ZEPLIN III and ELIXIR. Lead researchers: Professor T Sumner and H Araujo Gravitational wave astrophysics and general relativity Involvement in the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), which is an ESA/NASA space mission to study gravitational waves in the 0.1mHz to 0.1Hz frequency range to look for stellar binary systems, massive black hole mergers in distant galaxies and maybe even a cosmological background. Providing flight hardware for LISAPathfinder. Leading GAUGE, a new proposal to ESA to carry out precision tests of general relativity, such as an Equivalence Principle test to 1 part in 10(18). Lead researchers: Professor T Sumner and D Shaul

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Cosmology Cosmic microwave background (CMB), MAXIMA and BOOMERANG, Planck Surveyor Satellite, London Planck Analysis Centre (LPAC), and gravitational radiation from supermassive black holes. Lead researcher: A Jaffe X-ray astronomy and high-energy astrophysics Strong gravitational effects near black holes in active galactic nuclei (AGN). Black hole accretion processes. Deep x-ray and multi-wavelength surveys. Obscured AGN and the x-ray background. Cosmic evolution of AGN. Co-evolution of black holes and their host galaxies. X-ray tracers of star formation. Lead researcher: Professor K Nandra Condensed matter theory (Head of Group: Professor A P Sutton, FRS) Epitaxial phenomena Epitaxial growth, submicron structures and aggregation dynamics. Lead researcher: Professor D D Vvedensky Complex systems Self-organised criticality: earthquakes and evolution. Science of complexity. Lead researcher: Professor K Christensen Photonics Design of photonic structures, metamaterials, cloaking and negative refraction. Lead researcher: Professor Sir J Pendry Electronic structure simulations Electronic correlations and quantum Monte Carlo. Lead researcher: Professor W M C Foulkes Quantum phases of matter Superfluids and superconductors, and quantum Hall effect. Lead researcher: D D K Lee Cold-atom lattices Energy transfer and dissipation mechanisms in cold atom lattices. Lead researcher: A F Ho Nanomechanics and disorder Nanoscale physics and metal-insulator transition. Lead researcher: Professor A McKinnon Materials at the nanoscale Grain boundaries, non-adiabatic processes in irradiation damage of metals, polymer dynamics and mechanical properties of crystalline/glassy polymers. Lead researcher: Professor A P Sutton Theory and simulation of materials Interfaces in strontium titanate, theory of embrittlement, and non-adiabatic processes. Lead researcher: Professor M W Finnis

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Experimental solid state physics (Head of Group: Professor G Parry) Molecular electronic materials and devices Dye-sensitised and organic solar cells; polymer gain media for optical amplifiers and lasers; strong coupling in conjugated polymer microcavity structures; and glass transitions and molecular orientation in thin polymer films monitored by Raman spectroscopy; . Lead researchers: Professor J Nelson, Professor D Bradley, T Anthopoulos, P Stavrinou, and J S Kim Semiconductor physics and optoelectronics InAs/GaAs quantum dots (fundamentals and telecoms applications); novel solar cell structures; and thin film epitaxy of silicon-germanium for optoelectronics and photonics, quantum optics and optoelectronic devices in the mid-infrared. Lead researchers: Professor G Parry, Professor K Barnham, Professor C Phillips, R Murray, P Stavrinou, and J Zhang Superconductivity, magnetism and nanomagnetism and spintronics Measurement of spin polarisation in highly spin polarised ferromagnets using Andreev reflection techniques; MgB2 superconductors; nanoscale Hall-probe devices; and the fundamental properties of nanoscale magnetism. Lead researchers: Professor L Cohen, Professor A D Caplin, and G Perkins Nanophotonics and plasmonics Optical technology for preventing forgery; smart nanoparticles for targeted cancer treatment; plasmonics and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) in single molecules. Lead researchers: Professor R Cowburn, Professor L Cohen, and P Stavrinou. High-energy physics (Head of Group: Professor P J Dornan) Lead researchers: Professor P J Dornan, Professor P Dauncey, Professor G Hall, Professor K Long, Professor T Virdee, Professor D Wark, Professor D Websdale, W Cameron, D J Colling, G J Davies, U Egede, C Foudas, D Futyan, J Hassard, J Hays, R Jesik, P Koppenburg, J Nash, J Pozimski, M Raymond, J K Sedgbeer, C Seez, Y Uchida, and M Wascko Experiments at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) The group is a founder member of the CMS experiment, one of the two large general purpose detectors at the LHC. These detectors will at last solve the mystery of the Higgs boson and give the direction for physics beyond the Standard Model when data taking starts in 2008. The Group remains highly influential within this very large collaboration and currently provides the spokesperson, electronics coordinator, tracking coordinator and Higgs search coordinator. The Group has had major involvement with both the large silicon tracker and the lead tungstate electromagnetic calorimeter. LHCb States involving b-quarks will be produced profusely at the LHC and they have great potential to enable the understanding of CP violation in the quark sector and the flavour structure of the physics beyond the Standard Model. The Group has been

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responsible for the RICH1 sub-detector and is now investigating beyond the Standard Model (BSM) physics which will reveal itself in the rare decays of the B-mesons. The DØ Experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron DØ is one the two general purpose detectors at the Tevatron and so currently probes the high-energy frontier. The Group has responsibilities for the high-level trigger and is active with B-physics and the search for the Higgs boson. Data taking is planned to continue until 2009. The BaBar Experiment at SLAC Babar is located at the PEP-II electron-positron collider at the SLAC laboratory in California and investigates CP violation using Bd mesons. The Group activity is concentrating on charmless decays of these states. The Neutrino Programme T2K Data taking will start in 2009 for T2K, the first off-axis superbeam neutrino experiment. Neutrinos produced at the new Tokai laboratory on the east coast of Japan will be detected at Kamioka on the west coast. The Group is designing parts of the electromagnetic calorimeter and the software, as well as providing the international co-spokesperson for the experiment. SuperNEMO Neutrino oscillation has led to the possibility that neutrinos are their own anti-particle, so called Majorana neutrinos. This would have profound consequences for cosmology and the matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe. It would also result in a low but measurable rate of neutrinoless double beta decay. SuperNEMO is a next generation experiment to investigate this at the appropriate sensitivity. Muon Ionisation Cooling Experiment (MICE), and accelerator advances towards a future neutrino factory A neutrino factory is based on a muon storage ring, which due to the short muon lifetime can only be realised if fast muon cooling (focusing of a large aperture muon flux) can be realised. The MICE experiment at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) will start data taking in 2008 to test the viability of muon ionisation cooling. A neutrino factory also depends upon a high-power proton driver and the Group is collaborating with RAL to devise such a high-power front end. Neutrino factory design studies are also taking place. Detector R&D CALICE An electron-positron collider is the favoured device for precision measurements on new phenomena unearthed at the LHC. This will require a calorimeter with much greater granularity than previous ones. CALICE is an international collaboration to investigate new techniques combining software and hardware to achieve this goal. CMS upgrade Current planning foresees an order of magnitude upgrade of the LHC luminosity midway through the next decade. This will put severe constraints on the detectors,

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particularly the tracker, necessitating technological advance. Work in this direction is now commencing with the completion of the day-1 detector. GridPP The huge data flow at the LHC and international nature of the work will require advanced distributed (Grid) computing. The Group is a main participant of the GridPP collaboration producing systems for the LHC data but which will also have more general application. Photonics (Head of Group: Professor P French) Lead researchers: Professor M Damzen, Professor P French, Professor R Smith, Professor R Taylor, C W Dunsby, M McCall, M Neil, C Paterson, S Popov, P Török, K Weir, and E J Grace Biomedical optics Biomedical imaging; multi-dimensional fluorescence imaging; fluorescence lifetime imaging; optical tomography; imaging through turbid media; ophthalmic imaging (adaptive optics in the eye); and optical microscopy. Electromagnetic theory Optical imaging and programmable optics; rigorous vector theory applied to high numerical aperture imaging, polarimetry and optical storage; theoretical optics including low-frequency scattering, negative refraction in metamaterials and gravitational contexts; chiral media and sculptured thin films; optical encoders; and radiometry. Fibre laser technology Rare-earth doped and Raman fibre laser technology; fibre grating technology; nonlinear fibre optics; ultra-short pulse fibre laser technology; visible and ultra-violet fibre sources using periodically poled nonlinear media; generation and application of supercontinua in microstructured optical fibres; and biomedical applications. Imaging science and technology Adaptive optics; multi-dimensional fluorescence imaging including polarisation-resolved, time resolved and spectrally resolved imaging; high-speed 3D imaging; optical microscopy; and super-resolution and programmable optics. Laser physics and technology Ultrafast lasers and solid-state laser technology; high-power compact solid-state lasers; self-organising lasers; adaptive sensor technology; and nonlinear optics. Quantum optics and laser science (Head of Group: Professor J P Marangos) Quantum optics and quantum information; novel laser phenomena and nonlinear atom and photon optics; cold matter; nonlinear optics in a coherently prepared molecular medium; ion traps and laser cooling; confined atoms and atoms in external fields; strong field theory; laser development and modelling; shaping of high-intensity laser pulses; attosecond project; molecules in strong fields; and high-intensity laser interactions with nanoparticles. Lead researchers: Professor J-P Connerade, Professor E Hinds, Professor Sir P Knight, Professor J Marangos, Professor G New, Professor M Plenio, Professor R Thompson, J Eisert, J Hudson, T Rudolph,

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B Sauer, S Scheel, D Segal, R Smith, M Tarbutt, and J Tisch Centre for Cold Matter (Director: Professor E Hinds) Research at the Centre focuses on the control and understanding of elementary quantum systems using the techniques of atomic and laser physics. It is based in the Quantum Optics and Laser Science division of the Physics Department. The Laser Consortium (Director: Professor J P Marangos) Founded just over a decade ago to bring together expertise in high-intensity short-pulse lasers and intense laser-field-matter interactions. A broad range of experimental and theoretical investigations are underway at Imperial College and Oxford University. Plasma physics (Head of Group: Professor S Rose) Astrophysical plasmas Turbulence in space and astrophysical plasmas (solar wind, interstellar medium (ISM), and clusters of galaxies); origin of cosmic magnetism. Lead researcher: Professor S Cowley and A Schekochihin Dusty plasmas Theory and simulation of basic dust plasma interactions and dust in tokamaks. Lead researcher: M Coppins Laboratory astrophysics Laboratory experiments and numerical simulations focusing on the modelling of a variety of jet formation and propagation issues such as effects of radiative cooling on the jet dynamics, interaction with supersonic side plasma ‘winds’ and dense ‘clouds’, and jets with angular momentum. Lead researchers: Professor S V Lebedev and J P Chittenden Laser plasma interactions Inertial confinement fusion and the fast ignition concept. Laser produced plasmas as a compact particle accelerator. Experimental laser plasma interaction studies. Computational modelling of laser-plasma interactions. Modelling of short laser pulse interactions with solid targets. High-intensity laser interactions with solids. Lead researchers: Professor R Evans, Professor S Rose and Professor M G Haines, Z Najmudin, S Mangles, R Kingham, and A Dangor Tokamak research Joint European Torus (JET) and Culham. MAST (Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak) and tokamak theory. Turbulence and transport in fusion plasmas. Lead researchers: Professor S Cowley and Professor M G Haines, and A Schekochihin Z-pinch Magpie generator: nuclear fusion, inertial confinement fusion, and wire array Z-pinches. Lead researchers: Professor S V Lebedev, Professor M G Haines, and J P Chittenden

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Space and atmospheric physics (Head of Group: Professor P J Cargill) Lead researchers: Professor A Balogh, Professor P Cargill, Professor M Dougherty, Professor J Haigh, Professor J Harries, Professor S Schwartz, Professor R Toumi, A Czaja, B Forsyth, M Galand, T Horbury, I Mueller-Wodarg, and J Pickering Solar physics Investigation of the fine-scale plasma structure of the solar corona. Generation of observables of coronal heating models. Heliospheric physics Large-scale structure of the heliosphere; interplanetary shocks; coronal mass ejections (CMEs); turbulence in the heliosphere. Solar terrestrial physics Analysis techniques for multi-spacecraft data sets; analysis of magnetic field phenomena near magnetospheric boundaries; modelling of magnetopause and cusp plasmas; and ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling and hydromagnetic wave generation in the magnetosphere. Planetary magnetospheric physics Magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn (utilising Pioneer, Voyager, Ulysses and Galileo data); planetary magnetic field modelling; and magnetosphere / ionosphere coupling. Planetary aeronomy Understanding the complex processes which drive the upper atmospheres of planets, the deposition of energy from the Sun and surrounding magnetic environment, the redistribution of this energy within the atmosphere, and the resulting chemical and dynamical processes. Atmosphere and climate physics High-spectral resolution studies of cirrus clouds and of the greenhouse effect; radiation balance and atmospheric water vapour; spectral signatures of climate change; development of the TAFTS radiometer for aircraft; measurements of far infrared atmospheric fluxes; and surface ultraviolet (UV) and ozone. Earth observation physics Observed and simulated changes in the infrared spectrum of the Earth; observation of quasi-biennial and semi-annual oscillations in the stratosphere and mesosphere in HALOE H2O fields; the time variability of the Earth’s outgoing long-wave radiation studies of inter-annual variability of the southern polar vortex using HALOE data and meteorological parameters; trends in H2O and CH4; extreme events and sensitivity to climate change; and spectroscopy. Molecular and atomic spectroscopy Our research focuses on laboratory molecular and atomic spectroscopy, and the development of Fourier transform spectrometers that operate in the ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) regions of the spectrum. These instruments, of uniquely high resolving power, efficiency and range, provide accurate data for the study of planetary atmospheres and stellar plasmas. Space Magnetometer Laboratory

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Designing and building space-qualified instruments for solar-terrestrial and planetary missions; operating magnetometers and plasma instruments in flight; calibration of space instrumentation in flight; and the development of lighter, smaller, cheaper space instrumentation for future missions. Theoretical physics (Head of Group: Professor K Stelle) Cosmology Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) data, cosmic microwave background (CMB) fluctuations, varying fine structure constant, and braneworld models for the early Universe. Lead researchers: Professor T W B Kibble, Professor J Magueijo, A Rajantie, and C Contaldi Quantum field theory Our research in quantum field theory covers a wide range of applications from particle physics and cosmology to effective theories of condensed matter systems and quantum gravity, and it also has connections with the theory of complex networks. We are particularly interested in topological defects and other non-perturbative aspects of field theories both in and out of equilibrium. Lead researchers: Professor T W B Kibble, Professor R J Rivers, T S Evans, H F Jones, and A Rajantie Quantum foundations and gravity The application of topos theory to problems in quantum gravity and the foundations of quantum theory. Dynamical collapse models. The quantum analogue of the Bell inequalities. Quantum cosmology. The emergence of classical behaviour from quantum theory. Lead researchers: Professor J J Halliwell, Professor C J Isham, and H F Dowker String theory and M-theory AdS/CFT duality; strings on curved backgrounds; generalised geometry; compactifications with flux; supergravity; supersymmetric gauge theories; black holes in string theory; braneworld cosmologies; string ultraviolet corrections; and M-theory. Lead researchers: Professor M Duff, Professor J Gauntlett, Professor C Hull, Professor K Stelle, Professor A Tseytlin, A Hanany, D Waldram and T Wiseman

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Institution: King’s College London Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Dr D Richards URL: www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/pse/physics Astrophysics and cosmology Lead researchers: Professor N Mavromatos, Professor S Sarkar, I Ferreras, M Sakelariodou Theoretical cosmology Brane worlds, F/D strings, intersecting branes, supersymmetric grand unified theories, cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature anisotropies, and cosmic strings and other topological defects. Observational cosmology Galaxy formation and evolution (focusing on the formation of the most massive galaxies). The initial conditions and the evolution of the matter density field (creating mock universes which are compared with the real data to estimate how the initial conditions may have evolved). The star formation history of galaxies (developing phenomenological and ab initio methods to study the process of star formation in galaxies). Statistical methods in astrophysics (developing techniques based on principal component analysis, independent component analysis, and the information bottleneck as workhorses to be used on photometric and spectroscopic data.

Biophysics Biophotonics Fluorescence Lifetime Microscopy (FLIM) is an imaging technique that allows not only the location of proteins in live cells to be imaged, but also their biophysical micro-environment. We are interested in the application of FLIM to live cells and also to the development of FLIM systems that combine maximum sensitivity, spatial and temporal resolution with a minimum of acquisition time. Lead researcher: K Suhling Scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) allows the measurement of fluorescence from systems with 50 nm spatial resolution, while providing a simultaneous measurement of sample topography. As such it has great potential for application to biological systems for the identification of fluorescently labelled molecules, particularly when used in conjunction with the higher-resolution atomic force microscopy. Lead researcher: D Richards X-ray microprobes The use of focused x-ray beams for radiobiological applications. In collaboration with the Gray Cancer Institute. Lead researcher: Professor A Michette Molecular Modelling Photoactive proteins are an important class of biomolecules for fluorophore labeling in cell biology and have potential applications in molecular electronics. We are interested in developing further our investigation of how recently developed excited

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state techniques based on density functional theory perform when applied to protein chromophores. Lead researcher: C Molteni We are interested in modelling the bioactivity of materials interfaces in promoting the nucleation and growth of living tissue. For example, we have considered recently the optimisation of titanium surfaces of prosthetic implants in order to promote fast growth of bone tissue. A programme on the modelling of the interface between porous silicon and water will soon be underway. This is relevant for perspective electronic bioimplantation technology, and in particular to predict its mechanical response to stress. Lead researcher: A de Vita

Materials and molecular modelling Our ab initio modelling method of choice is density functional theory, a modern reformulation of quantum mechanics which is appropriate for large-scale accurate calculations. Thanks to its favourable ratio between accuracy and computational cost, it is a very successful technique for describing structural and electronic properties of systems of physical, chemical, materials science and biological interest. We apply ab initio modelling techniques to a range of topics, from nanoparticles and self-organised nanostructures, to defects in solids, surfaces, scanning probe imaging, biomolecules and biomaterials. We are also interested in developing techniques and software to expand the capability of current ab initio methods, in particular concerning the treatment of excited states and the study of large multi-scale systems, which require a combination of ab initio and empirical methods. Lead researchers: L Kantorovich, A Mainwood, C Molteni, and A de Vita

Nanotechnology Nanoparticle synthesis Fabrication of novel nanoparticles, particularly for application as biological labels. Lead researcher: C Molteni Materials and molecular modelling We apply ab initio modelling to a wide range of problems concerned with the fabrication, manipulation and properties of structures of nanoscale dimensions, including the study of supramolecular assembly of self-organised nanostructures, atomic manipulation on surfaces and the physics of nanoparticles and atomic force microscopy. Lead researchers: A de Vita and L Kantorovich Bionanotechnology (microtubules as information processors) Recent one dimensional models of dipole-dipole interactions in biologically derived materials suggest the possible existence of relatively long-lived coherent excitations. Lead researchers: Professor A Michette, Professor N Mavromatos, K Powell

Solid state physics (Head of Group: Professor A Mainwood) Defects in semiconductors Detecting, modelling and understanding defects in semiconductors (diamond, silicon and Si/Ge) and on techniques of high-resolution imaging. Experimental techniques include electron paramagnetic spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy (luminescence, absorption, Raman) and scanning probe microscopy. Theoretical methods employed

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include density functional theory of the electronic structure of defects and finite difference time domain simulations of photonic systems. The imaging ranges from electron paramagnetic resonance imaging and confocal Raman spectroscopy of semiconductor defects and quantum wires and dots, to scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) of nanostructured materials, including light-emitting polymers. Nano-optical microscopy Our programme on SNOM includes theoretical modelling and the development of novel techniques for the achievement of ~10 nm spatial resolution for fluorescence and Raman microscopy, as well as the application of such techniques to optical spectroscopic investigations of semiconductor and molecular nanostructures. Research within the group is also directed towards low-temperature diffraction-limited scanning confocal photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy on sub-micron lengthscales, for the study of the physics of semiconductor nanostructures such as quantum wires and dots and of polycrystalline and irradiated diamond. Lead researcher: D Richards Theoretical physics (Head of Group: Professor S Sarkar) Lead researchers: J Alexandre, Professor S Sarkar, Professor N Mavromatos, Professor E R Pike, M Sakellariadou Quantum gravity The construction of models for stringy quantum gravity, in which the gravitational interactions behave like a stochastic medium. Matter propagation The of the study of possible consequences for matter propagation in the context of current and future experimental facilities, both terrestrial and astrophysical. Conformal field theories Formal development and study of world-sheet logarithmic conformal field theories, with a wide range of applicability (from models in condensed matter physics to a discussion of recoil of solitonic backgrounds in string theory). Supersymmetry Research on supersymmetry breaking in the context of particle physics and in low-dimensional gauge theories (possibly of relevance to exotic quantum phases in condensed matter). Astroparticle physics Theoretical modelling of dark energy in the context of quantum gravity theories, especially superstrings, as well as testing supersymmetric models of particle physics by exploiting the increasing precision of recent astrophysical data, especially those of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Speech physics

X-ray physics (Head of Group: Professor A Michette) Work involves: high-resolution imaging of specimens via x-ray microscopy; developing laser plasma x-ray sources; and working on x-ray detectors (including CCD arrays for phase-contrast imaging, modified electron multipliers and photodiodes). As well as sophisticated techniques for extracting information from the

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x-ray images obtained to allow detailed elemental and chemical state mapping for applications as diverse as the study of bone diseases and the improvement of the properties of wood composites. Lead researchers: Professor A Michette, G Morrison, and K Powell

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Institution: University College London and Imperial College London Department: London Centre for Nanotechnology Head of Department: Professors Gabriel Aeppli & David McComb (Co-Directors) URL: http://www.london-nano.com A joint venture between University College London and Imperial College London with strong capabilities in engineering, physical sciences and biomedicine. The centre aims to provide the nanoscience, nanotechnology, facilities and computational power needed to solve major problems in information processing, health care, and energy and the environment. Lead researchers: Professor G Aeppli, Professor D Alfe, Professor N Alford, Professor I Boyd, Professor D Bradley, Professor S Bramwell, Professor F Cacialli, Professor L Cohen, Professor A De Mello, Professor T Duke, Professor J Durrant, Professor J Finney, Professor M Finnis, Professor A Fisher, Professor M Gillan, Professor N Harrison, Professor R Hill, Professor M Horton, Professor J Kilner, Professor Y Korchev, Professor W Lee, Professor P Lee, Professor T Lindley, Professor D McComb, Professor D McMorrow, Professor A Nathan, Professor Q Pankhurst, Professor I Parkin, Professor I Robinson, Professor A Seeds, Professor A Shluger, Professor N Skipper, Professor M Stoneham, Professor A Sutton and Professor G Thornton Ongoing studies include topics such as:

• Quantum information processing • Magnetism & Superconductivity • Metrology for biomedicine • Material formation deep inside the Earth’s interior • Synthesis and characterisation of 3-D ordered macro-porous thin films • Analysis of thin films and interfaces using analytical electron microscopy • Synthesis of novel functional materials for optoelectronic applications • Structure-property relationship investigations • Application of nano-analytical electron microscopy techniques for the study of

chemistry, structure and bonding at interfaces • Materials modelling • Electronic and optical devices/systems • Nanomechanics • Coherent X-ray imaging • Polymers and small organic molecules • Nano- and micro-fabrication

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Institution: Queen Mary, University of London Department: Astronomy Unit, School of Mathematical Sciences Head of Department: Professor James P Emerson URL: http://www.maths.qmul.ac.uk/Astronomy Astronomy Unit (Director: Professor James P Emerson) Lead Researchers: C B Agnor, D Burgess, Professor B J Carr, J Cho, J R Donnison, Professor J P Emerson, Professor J E Lidsey, K Malik, Professor C Murray, Professor R P Nelson, A G Polnarev, Professor I W Roxburgh, Professor M Scholer, W J Sutherland, Professor R Tavakol, S V Vorontsov and Professor I P Williams Research in the Astronomy Unit includes theoretical work, space-borne experiments and ground-based observations. Current interests are listed below. Space and Astrophysical Plasmas Space is filled with supersonic flows of magnetized plasmas, such as the solar wind which fills space between the Sun and planets. Using intensive computing power, researchers are developing models of the solar wind, especially the shocks, waves and turbulence it contains.

Solar System Dynamics

Currently the main effort is focussed on analysis of images from the Cassini spacecraft in orbit around Saturn. The research is concentrated on the dynamics of Saturn's narrow rings and small satellites with the goal of trying to understand their dynamical interaction. This involves image analysis as well as computer simulations of interacting objects. Other work includes studies of planetary ring systems, asteroid dynamics, resonant behaviour and chaotic motion in the solar system. The inter-relationships between asteroids comets and meteor streams is also being investigated together with the role of collisions in modifying the dynamics within various populations (e.g. Kuiper belt, Trojan asteroids).

Origin of planets and satellites Theoretical research examines orbital dynamics during planetary accretion and migration; the consequences of giant collisions between planets; and the capture and orbital evolution of planetary satellites. Other work includes computer simulations of the formation and evolution of extra-solar planetary systems. Extrasolar Planets and Planetary Fluid Dynamics Work on characterising the physical properties and climates of extrasolar planets, using computer simulations and analytical methods, is underway. Studies of transport and mixing of momentum, heat and tracers by waves, mean flow and turbulence in planetary atmospheres and accretion discs are ongoing. Solar & Stellar Physics Research interests cover solar and stellar seismology, convection, rotation, dynamos, and stellar evolution. Researchers are working with oscillation data from the satellites SoHO and CoRoT to study the internal structure and rotation of the Sun and stars, on the structure and oscillations of rapidly rotating stars, on numerical simulation of stellar convection and dynamo generation of magnetic fields. The group will be involved in using data from the upcoming NASA Kepler satellite, and is

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involved in developing the future space mission PLATO. Cosmology & the Early Universe Our research focuses on the study of the early universe, perturbation theory, dark matter and dark energy, and aspects of General Relativity and gravitation. In particular researchers are studying the formation of large scale structure; primordial black holes, Population III stars; cosmological solutions of Einstein's equations and the anthropic principle; inflation and non-gaussianity; primordial gravitational waves; anisotropies and polarisation of the cosmic microwave background radiation; cosmological aspects of super-string and M-theory.

General Relativity & Relativistic Astrophysics

Theoretical aspects of relativistic experiments in the Solar System. Gravimagnetic effect. Supermassive Black holes in Quasi Stellar Objects. Interaction of Binary Black Holes with stellar clusters and accretion disks. Interaction of electromagnetic and gravitational waves. Theoretical aspects of indirect detection of gravitational waves by space radio-interferometry, pulsar timing and by measurement of B-polarization of the cosmic microwave background. Survey Astronomy The group has a number of active research programmes using multi-wavelength wide-field imaging surveys of large areas at infrared and optical wavelengths. The VISTA facility, a 4-meter Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy at the European Southern Observatory in Chile, equipped with a wide field near-IR camera, has been constructed in Chile (the group includes the Principal Investigator and Project Scientist this QMUL-led £36-m project). The group leads the VISTA Kilo-Degree Infrared Galaxy Survey, and is involved in all the other five VISTA public surveys, which range from very deep over a small area of sky, to shallow over the whole southern hemisphere, offering a vast resource for studying stars, the Galaxy, the Magellanic Clouds, galaxies and cosmology.

Institution: Queen Mary, University of London Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor D Dunstan URL: www.ph.qmul.ac.uk Experimental particle physics (Head of Group: Professor A Carter) Lead researchers: Professor A Carter, Professor E Eisenhandler, Professor P Kalmus, Professor S Lloyd, Professor G Thompson, A Bevan, L Cerrito, F Di Lodovico, A Martin, and E Rizvi BaBar BaBar studies the decay of B particles (which contain b quarks) produced by electron-positron collisions at the SLAC B Factory in California. By looking at the difference between the way B particles and their antiparticles decay they are able to study so-called CP violation which might help explain why the Universe is dominated by particles, with very few antiparticles. H1 The proton-electron collider, HERA, at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg collides

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protons with electrons. This enables H1 to use the point-like lepton as a probe of the quark and gluon distributions within the proton to investigate electroweak interactions between quarks and leptons and to search for new phenomena, for example the hypothetical leptoquarks. ATLAS This is being constructed at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The LHC will collide protons with protons. This will allow ATLAS to search for and study the Higgs Particle, thought to be responsible for the generation of mass, and for new phenomena such as supersymmetry. Queen Mary is involved in the construction of the semiconductor tracker and the first-level calorimeter trigger, Grid computing and physics studies. T2K This is a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment that probes physics beyond the Standard Model by high-precision measurements of the neutrino masses and mixing parameters. We are involved in the design of the near detector.

Molecular and materials (Head of Group: Professor K Donovan) Lead researchers: Professor D Dunstan, Professor G Wilson, M Baxendale, J Dennis, W Gillin, T Kreouzis, and A Sapelkin Charge transport in liquid crystals Using the time-of-flight technique, the mobility of charge carriers are studied in: a) discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) in collaboration with Leeds University (Centre for Self Organising Molecular Systems) and with Birmingham University (School of Chemistry) and in b) calamitic liquid crystals (CLCs) in collaboration with Merck. A wide range of transport phenomena are observed including quasi one-dimensional transport in the columns of the DLCs, and ambipolar transport and dispersive transport in a range of CLCs. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) The enormous variety and consequent tunability of electronic energy levels allow the use of organic molecules in layered structures to act as electron or hole transport layers and as emission layers in OLEDs. Such structures and their electronic and optical properties are under study. Induced optical properties of carbon single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) Using the existence of a large electric field induced polarisability in SWNTs, the effects of the alignment of suspensions of SWNTs in transient uniform electric fields on the optical properties of the suspension is studied. Studies include both the Kerr effect and the induced linear dichroism. These studies are a way to effect a dynamic study of the alignment rates of nanoscale objects in viscous media. A comparison is made of the findings with the results of classical hydrodynamics, established using finite element analysis, a method inapplicable to the nanoscale objects of interest in this research. Dielectrophoretic separation of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes The induced dipole moment on a metallic nanotube is orders of magnitude larger than that of the semiconducting nanotubes. This implies a much larger dielectrophoretic force acting upon the metallic nanotubes in suspension in non-uniform electric fields. As SWNTs are available as a mixture of metallic and

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semiconducting nanotubes, it is proposed that this differential dielectrophoretic force may provide a means of separation of the two types. Also of interest, depending on the method by which the non-uniform field is obtained, the dielectrophoretic force may be applied parallel to the long axis of the nanotube or parallel to it resulting in very different drag forces on the moving nanotubes. It is the aim of this research to compare the results of experiments on dielectrophoretic on SWNTs with the known results from classical hydrodynamics in these two situations. Theoretical physics (Head of Group: Professor W J Spence) Lead researchers: Professor J Charap, Professor W J Spence, Professor S Thomas, D Berman, A Brandhuber, S Ramgoolam, R Russo, and G Travaglini M-theory Investigating exist two sorts of extended object in M-theory, the membrane and the five-brane. Looking at how open membranes end on five-branes. Techniques used have included: calculating scattering amplitudes of brane intersections; looking for world volume solutions; using fuzzy funnel descriptions; calculating anomalies; and searching for relevant supergravity solutions. Lead researcher: D Berman String theory, supersymmetric gauge theories and their interrelations Looking at how certain field theories are dual to certain string theories. Understanding the dynamics of gauge theories at the perturbative and non-perturbative level. Exploring theoretical scenarios where the interplay between string and field theory has proved to be particularly fruitful and productive: Lead researcher: A Brandhuber Gauge-string duality Investigating topological strings/2d-Yang-Mills, M-theory / Matrix-Theory, and AdS / CFT. Other topics of interest are fuzzy spaces, time-dependent D-branes, black holes, cosmology, and particle physics. This work interfaces with mathematical topics such as quantum groups, non-commutative geometry, Hecke algebras, and Schur-Weyl duality. Lead researcher: S Ramgoolam String theory and its relation with gauge theories and particle physics Looking at string perturbation theory, particularly its applications to phenomenological string models such as the intersecting brane worlds. Formal developments on multi-loop amplitudes; gauge/string dualities, in particular the relation between strings on AdS5 x S5 and N=4 super Yang-Mills and its non-conformal extensions; supersymmetric gauge theories and their realisation by means of D-branes. Lead researcher: R Russo M-theory, string theory and related areas of mathematics Particular areas of interest are the geometry of branes in M-theory, topological field theories, manifolds of exceptional holonomy, and twistor string theory Lead researcher: Professor W J Spence Heterotic M-theory and superstrings, conformal field theories

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Orbifold compactifiactions of heterotic superstrings and also heterotic M-theory compactifications and their phenomenological applications to particle physics. Applications of conformal field theories in condensed matter systems and so-called 'conformal turbulence' in 2-dimensions. Interests also include fuzzy geometries, D-brane dynamics in curved backgrounds, unstable D-branes/Tachyon condensation and string/D-brane inspired cosmologies. Lead researcher: Professor S Thomas Connections between gauge theory and string theory, and string/field theory dualities Interests include: non-perturbative effects in supersymmetric gauge theories; the application of non-commutative geometry to particle physics; the AdS/CFT and the PP-wave/N=4 super Yang-Mills correspondence; and the study of perturbative gauge theory amplitudes using twistor-inspired methods and their relation to twistor string theory. The unifying theme of these topics is the existence of deep connections between gauge theory and string theory. Lead researcher: G Travaglini

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Institution: Royal Holloway, University of London Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor J Saunders URL: www.ph.rhul.ac.uk Particle physics (Head of Group: Professor G Blair) Lead researchers: Professor G Blair, Professor M Green, S Boogert, G Cowan, A de Santo, P Karataev, T McMahon, P Teixeira-Dias, and K Peach ALEPH During the design, prototyping and construction phase we took sole responsibility for the second level trigger and worked together with other UK groups on the endcap electromagnetic calorimeter. Particular areas of interest include searches for excited states of leptons and quarks, supersymmetric leptons, scalar partners of the Z, heavy neutrinos and rare decays of the Z. In the QCD group we carried out a major analysis on charged particle multiplicities and the variation of QCD parameters with energy. ATLAS ATLAS is one of the two general purpose detectors being built in the LHC ring. Our major contributions are in the design of the high-level trigger and data acquisition systems, as well as in exploiting the physics opportunities ATLAS will provide. Current projects include: the detection and measurement of the light Higgs boson; determination of the CP-parity of a Higgs particle; the detection of an invisible Higgs produced in association with a pair of top quarks; supersymmetric signatures; and tri-lepton signatures from chargino and neutralino decays. Other interests include the search for single-top quark events produced via flavour-changing neutral currents, and investigating the impact of parton density uncertainties on predictions for LHC observables using Bayesian statistical methods. BaBar A high-quality electromagnetic calorimeter is an essential feature of BaBar. The UK groups in the collaboration built the forward endcap of this calorimeter including the associated electronics, trigger and data acquisition. We carried out radiation damage studies for the calorimeter's CsI crystals. We are involved in the operation and monitoring of the electromagnetic calorimeter (EMC) and the calorimeter electromagnetic trigger (EMT). We played a major role in the production of trigger software for the EMT, and calorimeter energy calibration using Virtual Compton Scattering (VCS) events. Interests include measurements of sin(2Beta), CP violation, hadronic mass moments and branching ratios. CALICE CALICE carries out R&D towards a high-granularity calorimeter for the International Linear Collider (ILC). A key requirement of an ILC detector is to obtain high resolution measurement of the energy of jets within events and this in turn requires a good “Particle flow" measurement. We are taking part in three projects within the UK effort on CALICE. Development of a DAQ system for the calorimeter. Test beam studies of a prototype calorimeter. Studies of the design requirements of the calorimeter for different physics processes International Linear Collider (ILC) Starting in 2000 the group has been working on the simulation and study of the beam

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delivery system for the future linear collider (FLC). The beam delivery system is an important part of the accelerator that lies between the main linac and the detector interaction region. The GridPP project In 2001, a consortium of 18 UK universities plus CERN and RAL formed the GridPP Collaboration to build a Grid for particle physics in the UK, primarily, though not exclusively, for analysing data from the LHC at CERN. Low temperature physics (Head of Group: Professor J Saunders) Lead researchers: Professor J Saunders, Professor B Cowan, Professor M Lea, P Meeson, C Lusher, and M Grosche Two-dimensional quantum fluids and solids Helium adsorbed on a solid surface at low temperatures is used as a model system for the study of 2D liquids and solids and their phase transitions. The hope is the realisation of new states of matter in these films, such as new superfluids, whose novelty arises in part from the reduced dimensionality. Solid 3He and helium clusters Studying phemonmena such as quantum mechanical tunnelling and phase separation using techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). NMR using dc SQUIDS (Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices) We are working on the development of high-sensitivity nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers using dc SQUIDs. Current sensing noise thermometry using a dc SQUID We are developing a thermometer which uses a DC SQUID to sense the thermal noise current in a resistor. Strongly-correlated electron systems High Tc superconductors and certain intermetallic compounds behave in very different ways from conventional metals. We have a new program to study these using NMR, exploiting the sensitivity of the dc SQUID NMR spectrometers we are developing, to study single-crystal samples of intermetallic compounds. Magnetic properties of solid 3He (EU network) A direct microscopic investigation of the magnetic structure of ordered bulk solid 3He by means of neutron diffraction. This is challenging because 3He strongly absorbs neutrons and the experiments need to be conducted around 1mK. The work complements previous studies using neutrons of magnetic order in copper and silver at nanokelvin temperatures. Electrons on helium for quantum information processing The aim of this project is to exploit recent developments in both quantum computing and the development of devices that can trap and control single electrons above the surface of liquid helium. Quantum phase transitions in complex metals Research focuses on the behaviour of transition metal compounds on the threshold of electronic order: the quantum melting of magnetic or charge order by electronic zero-point motion. It is motivated by a recent series of breakthroughs in the related

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rare-earth (4f- and 5f- electron) compounds, in which novel metallic states, including unconventional superconductivity, have been discovered at the critical point, on the border to magnetic order. Nanophysics and nanotechnology (Head of Group: Professor V Petrashov) Lead researchers: Professor V Petrashov, Professor M Moore, V Antonov, I Sosnin, J Nicholls, R Miller, Y Proskuryakov, and R Shaikhaidarov Quantum electron dynamics and quantum computing Quantum spectroscopy for superconducting phase qubits using Andreev reflections. X-ray nanocollimator Developing finely collimated beams of synchrotron x-rays, which are used to construct a high-resolution scanning x-ray microscope operating in the hard x-ray spectral region. Mesoscopic superconductivity and advanced magnetism Creating hybrid nanostructures with high-quality ferromagnet/superconductor interfaces. Terahertz vision A successful terahertz imager should have an ultra-sensitive sensor, a loss-free optical system and efficient spectral filters. We are investigating all aspects of terahertz vision. Semiconductor nanostructures The Fermi wavelength of electrons in semiconductors is much longer than in metals, and consequently it is easier to confine electrons into planes, wires, and dots, creating 2D, 1D, and 0D electron systems. Ultra-thin metallic films A new technology to deposit ultra-thin metallic films is being developed using in-situ rotation of the substrate during evaporation of material through a nanometre-size hole in the membrane. Only a very small area of the substrate is exposed to atomic flux at any one time, so it is possible to avoid clustering of the film which limits the minimum thickness of continuous film in usual conditions. This has potential applications in nano-electronics. Thermopower measurements at low temperatures Vision and signal processing (Head of Group: Professor R Davies) Lead researchers: Professor R Davies and S Flockton Machine vision We have been studying the use of computers for industrial control, particularly for automatic assembly and automatic inspection, starting with images obtained from television and line-scan cameras. We have had considerable involvement with the food industry and have developed methods for real-time inspection using special electronic hardware and ultra-fast software. Our research interests include: using x-rays to detect foreign bodies in food; using adaptive algorithms in food inspection; advanced image filtering techniques; and developing the fundamental theory which

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underpins this subject area. Signal processing In recent projects we have developed new algorithms for acoustic echo cancellation, as experienced in loudspeaking telephone systems and video conferencing, for active control of acoustic noise, for blind equalisation of communications signals, in both wireless and cable systems, and a novel neural network system for monitoring the condition of mechanical structures. Our current interests include: intrinsic circuit evolution using programmable analogue arrays; blind separation of signals; and adaptive algorithms for telecommunications.

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Institution: University College London Department: Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering Head of Department: Professor A Todd-Pokropek URL: www.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/index.html Biomedical optics Lead researchers: Professor D T Delpy, Professor S R Arridge, Professor J C Hebden, P Beard, C Elwell, T Mills, and A Gibson Near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy. Photoacoustic imaging and spectroscopy. Downloadable Data and Software. Centre for Medical Image Computation Lead researchers: Professor D Hawkes, Professor D Hill, Professor A Finkelstein, Professor A Todd-Pokropek, Professor S Arridge, D Alexander, D Atkinson, and L Griffin The Centre for Medical Image Computing is a world class grouping combining excellence in medical imaging sciences with innovative computational methodology. Our research finds application in biomedical research and in healthcare. The research of the Group focuses on detailed structural and functional analysis in neurosciences, imaging to guide interventions, image analysis in drug discovery, imaging in cardiology and imaging in oncology with a strong emphasis on e-science technologies. The Centre, which is a joint initiative between the Departments of Medical Physics and Computer Science, has very close links with the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, the Faculty of Life Sciences and associated Clinical Institutes, in particular the Institute of Neurology and the Institute of Child Health. We have links with the Centre for Neuroimaging Techniques, London Centre for Nanotechnology and the Centre for Healthcare Informatics and Medical Education (CHIME). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Lead researchers: E Cady, R Ordidge, A Bainbridge, E de Vita, and D Thomas Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) involves the measurement of radiofrequency signals arising from transitions between nuclear energy states that are formed when spinning nuclei align with an applied magnetic field. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it is the spatial distribution of protons (eg hydrogen nuclei and hence water) that are mapped in the 2 or 3 dimensional image. In magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), the concentration of important metabolites are measured in the body, usually from a well defined rectangular volume located relative to the MR image. In both cases, the technique is non-invasive and can be applied repetitively with no harm to the patient. MR scanners are costly (up to several million dollars/pounds) and incorporate a powerful magnet which is usually superconducting. Radiation physics Lead researchers: B Planskoy, G Royle, and R Speller Analysis of scattered x-rays to examine materials or biological tissues. The development of new detectors and systems for medical or industrial imaging.

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Implanted devices Lead researcher: Professor N Donaldson Research is aimed at restoring function to paralysed muscles using functional electrical stimulation (FES). Neurophysiology Neurophysics is the branch of medical physics concerned with using physics techniques to study the properties and behaviour of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). Continence technology The work involves the clinical evaluation of incontinence products; the creation of international standards for incontinence products; the design of novel incontinence products; and research projects focusing on the science and technology of absorbency and wider continence issues like skin health and nursing practice. Institution: University College London Department: Department of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: Professor J Tennyson URL: www.phys.ucl.ac.uk Astronomy, astrophysics and atmospheric physics (Head of Group: Professor O Lahav) Atmospheric physics Earth observations: Fabry-Perot measurements of thermospheric winds. Research on the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar system. Auroral spectroscopy using the UCL-Soton spectrographic platform. Planetary observations: Energy systems in the giant planets. Ionosphere-magnetosphere coupling. The influence of the solar wind on giant planets. Earth modelling of the coupled thermosphere/ionosphere system and the coupled mesosphere-thermosphere system. Planetary modelling of the ionosphere / thermosphere of the giant planets and the upper atmosphere of non-magnetised terrestrial planets. Lead researchers: Professor A Aylward, Professor S Miller, A L Aruliah, and N Achilleos Extrasolar planets Characterising exoplanets by a combination of observation via a variety of space telescopes and by the construction of detailed atmospheric models. Spectroscopic signatures. Possible search for conditions for supporting life. Lead researchers: Professor O Lahav, Professor S Miller, G Tinetti, and S Viti Circumstellar and interstellar environments We carry out research on nebular astrophysics, dusty circumstellar environments and mass loss from evolved stars, utilising spaceborne and ground-based facilities

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encompassing UV, optical, IR and submillimetre wavelengths, together with radiative transfer and photoionisation modelling. Our main areas of research include debris disks around young stars and main sequence stars; observational and theoretical studies of galactic and extragalactic planetary nebulae, and HII regions; laboratory and observational studies of silicate dust particles; and studies of dust formed in the outflows from evolved stars and from supernovae and their progenitors. Lead researchers: Professor M Barlow, Professor J Rawlings, S Viti, and J Yates Galaxies and cosmology We carry out research into the astrophysics of extragalactic objects as well as in observational and computational cosmology. Our main areas of research encompass: redshift surveys and the large scale structure of the Universe, cosmic microwave background, dark energy, gravitational lensing, galaxy formation and evolution (mergers, starbursts, star formation history and chemical feedback). Lead researchers: Professor O Lahav, S Bridle, L Smith, and J Weller Massive stars and clusters We undertake research into the properties of the most luminous, massive stars in our own and other galaxies, looking at them as individual objects and as populations. Lead researchers: Professor I Howarth, R Prinja, and L Smith Optical science laboratory Astronomical spectrographs and instrumentation - research, development and construction of spectrographic and other astronomical instrumentation such as a wide-field corrector for the Blanco Telescope's Dark Energy Survey; an optimised stellar coronagraph for adaptive optics for the William Herschel Telescope; and a bench-mounted High-Resolution Spectrograph (bHROS) for Gemini South. Active and adaptive optics - the measurement and automated compensation of image defects due to manufacturing errors, thermal and gravity-induced distortions, and turbulence or other inhomogeneities in the light-path. Projects include: smart x-ray optics; large carbon-fibre adaptive mirrors for the next generation of Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs); lightweight active and passive carbon-fibre mirrors; and the Adaptive Secondary Mirror project. Optical manufacture and metrology - modern technologies for the automated manufacture and measurement of optical surfaces. Projects include: optical manipulation and metrology (OMAM); the Basic Technology project; the Prosthetic joints project; ultra-precision polishing of aspherics; development of computer-controlled polishing technologies; the Birr Castle Telescope Project; and the Diamond Turning project. Lead researchers: P Doel and D Walker Star formation and astrochemistry Our research covers studies of star formation in our Galaxy as well as other galaxies. We also study interstellar molecular clouds, circumstellar envelopes, planetary nebulae, ejecta from novae and supernovae, outflows and jets. Lead researchers: Professor J Rawlings, Professor J Tennyson, and S Viti High-energy physics (Head of Group: Professor J Butterworth) Lead researchers: Professor J Butterworth, Professor J Thomas, C Gwenlan, N Konstantinidis, M Lancaster, R Nichol, R Saakyan, M Sutton, R Thorne, D Tovee, D Waters, and M Wing

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ATLAS We are active in the Standard Model, Higgs, and supersymmetry and exotics groups as well as in developing modern OO software for accessing and analysing the vast quantities of real and simulated data needed to make physics measurements in ATLAS. We are also participating in developing fast algorithms for online event selection in the ATLAS Trigger and building the Semiconductor Tracker (SCT). Lead researchers: Professor J Butterworth, N Konstantinidis, M Sutton, and C Gwenlan CDF (Collider Detector at Fermilab) The Group is working on: the measurement of the properties of W and Z bosons; measurements of diffractive di-photon and exclusive Chi_c events; QCD measurements; calorimeter software; cataloguing of the experiments calibration constants; and e-Science/Grid initiatives. Lead researchers: M Lancaster and D Waters CEDAR Combined e-Science Data Analysis Resource for high-energy physics. Lead researcher: Professor J Butterworth Linear collider Interests include: developing a system of spectrometers for ILC and working with the CALICE collaboration. Lead researchers: Professor J Butterworth, N Konstantinidis, M Lancaster, and M Wing MINOS This is a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. The Group has involvement in most aspects of MINOS. Lead researchers: Professor J Thomas and R Saakyan NEMO (Neutrino Ettore Majorana Observatory) Working on NEMO 3 and SuperNEMO Lead researchers: Professor J Thomas and R Saakyan UHE (ultra high energy) neutrinos We are involved two collaborations that exploit the Askaryan effect to detect neutrinos via their interaction in ice or water. The ANITA experiment is seeking to detect UHE neutrinos via the radio Askaryan signal using antennas on a balloon that will fly over the Antarctic ice. The ACORNE collaboration is performing R&D to utilise the acoustic Askaryan signal produced when UHE neutrinos interact with water with a view to establishing a large-scale acoustic UHE neutrino detector. Lead researchers: M Lancaster, R Nichol, and D Waters ZEUS This is a detector at the world's only electron-proton collider, HERA, which is at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg, Germany. Lead researchers: M Wing and C Gwenlan Atomic, molecular, optical and positron physics (Head of Group: Professor G Laricchia) Ultra-cold atomic and molecular physics

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Laser cooling of atoms. Ratchet effect and Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC). Trapping of cold molecules and physical processes at ultralow temperatures. Theory of BEC and molecule formations. Lead researchers: F Renzoni, P Barker, and T Koehler Quantum information Research interests: entanglement and quantum information; quantum optics; quantum state transfer using spin chains; quantum computation using higher dimensional spins; and supersinglets. Lead researchers: S Bose, D Browne, and A Serafini Femtosecond laser spectroscopy Work in our group involves the development and application of sensitive ultrafast (picosecond-femtosecond) laser techniques to study molecular dynamics in ordered environments. The presence of molecular order can have a significant influence on intrinsic optical properties (eg dichroism and birefringence), chemical reactivity and photophysics. In nature highly ordered molecular environments are found within cell membranes, the local surroundings of fluorescent chromophores in proteins, the mesophases of liquid crystals and self assembling molecular structures and aggregates. Lead researcher: A J Bain Theoretical molecular physics The programme covers collisions of electrons with molecules, the spectroscopy of small molecules, the quantal behaviour of classically chaotic systems and molecular data for astrophysics. Lead researcher: Professor J Tennyson Optical tweezers We are involved in several lines of research at the interface of physics and the life sciences, involving the trapping and manipulation of microscopic objects with laser light (optical tweezers). These include the optical trapping of microbubbles and rotating optical traps for microfluidics. Lead researcher: P Jones Positron physics Research interests: threshold ionisation, differential ionisation, positronium formation, integral ionisation, elastic scattering, and annihilation. Lead researcher: Professor N Laricchia Quantum dynamics and quantum chaos Research interests: quantum entanglement, cold atoms and BECs, cold atom ratchets, Rydberg molecules in fields, chaos and tunnelling diodes, and Rydberg atoms in fields. Lead researcher: Professor T S Monteiro Atoms and lasers The current research is the interaction of laser radiation with atomic matter, collisional processes in laser fields and atomic scattering phenomena. While the work is of a fundamental nature there is ample application in environmental physics and the physics of fusion plasmas. The use of computers for data transfer, modelling and covariance mapping is a path-way to techniques used in commerce. Recollisions effects in intense laser fields. Theoretical models of processes in intense laser fields. Lead researchers: Professor W R Newell, J Underwood, C Faria

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Condensed matter and materials physics (Head of Group: Professor N Skipper) Lead researchers: Professor M Stoneham, Professor C Renner, Professor N Skipper, Professor A Fisher, Professor J Finney, Professor A Shluger, Professor Q Pankhurst, Professor F Cacialli, Professor M Gillan, Professor K McEwen, Professor A M Stoneham, Ford, D Bowler, A H Harker, M Ellerby, and S Zochowski The Group is closely associated with the newly opened London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) Structures and phase transitions Research interests: melting of two-dimensional adsorbed films of organic molecules; hydrophobic hydration and interaction; structure of ice; phase transitions in intercalated graphite compounds; phases of metal-amine solutions; phases in charge-stablised colloids; formation of ferrites by SHS; and nucleation of liquid droplets and solid particles from supersaturated vapours. Defects and disorder Research interests: properties of defects in ionic crystals; defects and disorder and their significance for electronic devices; ice, aqueous solutions and biological disorder; scanning probe microscopy; nanostructures and their properties; and defects, reactions and growth at surfaces. Magnetic materials Exploring the possibility that an early warning signal of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases exists in the form of tiny magnetic particles secreted in the brain. Investigating the crystallisation behaviour in initially amorphous iron-zirconium-boron alloys made by direct chemical precipitation. The 'fireworks' method of synthesising both hard and soft ferrite magnets. Surfaces and interfaces Research interests: nanostructures and their properties; scanning probe microscopy; layers and thin films on materials; solutions near interfaces and colloidal interactions; defects, reactions and growth at surfaces; and oxide surfaces. Organic semiconductors Near-field nanofabrication and photophysical probing of organic semiconductor nanostructures. Institution: University College London Department: Dept. of Space & Climate Physics, Mullard Space Science Lab Head of Department: Professor A Smith URL: www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/pages Astrophysics Research interests: active galactic nuclei, astrophysical jets, compact binaries, galactic dynamics, gamma ray bursts, neutron stars, quasar surveys, theory, and ultraluminous x-ray sources. Lead researchers: A Blustin, G Branduardi-Raymont, C Brocksopp, M Cropper, R Mignani, S Oates, M Page, S Pandey, M de Pasquale, L

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Pickard, G Ramsey, P Schady, R Smith, R Soria, D Vande Putte, and K Wu Climate extremes Our main foci are tropical storms worldwide, European extreme weather and global drought. We work on monitoring, modelling and predictions to benefit industry, society and government. Lead researcher: Professor M Saunders

Detector physics The group specialises in three main areas: CCDs, cryogenic detectors and systems, and microchannel plate detectors. There is also considerable experience in other detector types including gas-based detectors (mainly proportional counters) and solid-state detectors. Lead researchers: D Walton, D Kataria, and I Hepburn

Space plasma physics Current active research areas: Sun-Earth connections; magnetopause reconnection and flux transfer events; dynamics and structure of the cusp region; wave-particle interaction in the cusp; formation and properties of the low-latitude boundary layer; large-scale waves at the flank magnetopause; particle acceleration during the magnetotail reconnection; dynamics and properties of the magnetotail current sheet; physics of magnetospheric substorms; and structure of flux ropes in the magnetotail. Lead researchers: A Coates, A Fazakerley, and C Owen

Planetary science Our planetary research has two strands: the solar wind and its interaction with different solar system bodies and planetary surface studies. We are active in four main areas of magnetospheric research: the cusp, the magnetopause, the inner magnetosphere and magnetotail & substorm physics. In addition we are studying key boundaries such as the bow shock and the underlying physical processes which form them. We are particularly interested in magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause and in the magnetotail, as well as the magnetospheres of Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury, and solar wind interactions with Mars, Venus and comets. We are involved in instrument and science teams for Mars Express (ASPERA-3), Venus Express (ASPERA-4) and Rosetta (RPC). We also use data from Cassini-Huygens at Saturn, the ESA 4-spacecraft Cluster mission, CRRES, Polar, Interball, Geotail and Wind satellites and from the Cassini Earth flyby. Lead researchers: A Coates and G Jones Solar and stellar physics Research interests: coronal mass ejections (CMEs), solar corona, flares, solar-stellar connection, solar terrestrial connection, future missions, and SUFT (solar UK research facility). Lead researchers: L Culhane, L Harra, S Matthews, K Phillips, and L van Driel- Gesztelyi

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Theory We apply physics and computational methods to seek general insight into exotic phenomena that are studied in space science. Our interests include accretion onto degenerate stars, cosmology, gamma-ray bursts, isolated neutron stars, jets in active galactic nuclei, radiative transfer, ultra-compact binary systems, ultraluminous x-ray sources, and x-ray sources in galaxies. Lead researchers: R Soria, R Turolla, K Wu, V Yershov, and H Ziaeepour

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Institution: Loughborough University Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor F V Kusmartsev URL: www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ph Condensed matter theory and quantum information (Head of Group: Professor F V Kusmartsev) Lead researchers: Professor F V Kusmartsev, Professor D I Khomskii, K Alekseev, B Chesca, R T Giles, D R Gulevich, K I Kugel, K Kürten, M S Laad, A L Rakhmanov, E I Rashba, J H Samson, S Saveliev, M B Sobnack, and A M Zagoskin Quantum information Research projects: quantum information and quantum computation. Condensed matter theory Research projects: strong electron correlations; quantum Hall effect; composite fermions; Josephson and superconducting networks; quantum liquids and solids; physics of nanostructures and mesoscopics; topological and quantum phase transitions; two-dimensional electron and boson gases; metal-insulator and superconductor insulator phase transitions; electronic phase separation; mechanism of melting of vortex lattices; giant and extraordinary magnetoresistance; Hartree-Fock solutions of the Hubbard model; photo-induced phase transitions; electron-phonon interactions; and social and neural networks, network dynamics and decision making processes as well as various problems in psychophysics and biophysics. Quantum mechanics Research projects: quantum chaos; quasi-probabilities in quantum mechanics. Cosmology Research projects: cosmological phase transitions; the origin of cold dark matter; and the domain structure of dark energy and dark matter. Methods of theoretical physics Research projects: Fourier kernels; path integration; Bethe Ansatz and analogous exactly solvable methods; many-body Feenberg formalism, correlated basis function and coupled cluster methods; Feynman diagram technique and Green function methods; variational and quantum Monte-Carlo methods; methods of nonlinear and chaotic dynamics; bosonisation; renormalisation group; and numerical methods. Experimental condensed matter physics (Head of Group: Professor K R A Ziebeck) Lead researchers: Professor K R A Ziebeck and K-U Neumann Solid state research facilities Specific heat; magnetisation; dilatometry; Brillouin scattering; magneto-resistance; x-ray, powder and single crystal diffraction; polycrystalline and single crystal manufacturing; dilution fridge; and 7-tesla superconducting magnet. Neutron scattering Institut Laue - Langevin (France); Hahn Meitner Institut, Berlin (Germany); Institut für Festkörperforschung, Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany); ISIS Oxford (UK).

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Additional techniques Muon scattering; synchrotron studies; molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of magnetic systems. Materials physics and applications (Head of Group: G M Swallowe) Lead researchers: G M Swallowe, D J Parry, and P Perrin High-strain rate phenomena and microstructural changes in polymers, metals and composites; stress measurements using diffraction techniques; musical acoustics; and psychoacoustics. Quantum structures and phase transitions (Head of Group: Professor A S Alexandrov) Lead researchers: Professor A S Alexandrov, M D Cropper, J P Hague, V V Kabanov, P E Kornilovitch, and V N Zavaritsky Strongly correlated electrons Theory of high-Tc superconductivity; theory of colossal magnetoresistance; high-Tc superconductors in ultrahigh magnetic fields; strongly correlated electron-phonon systems, polarons and bipolarons; continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo simulations; charged Bose liquids; quantum oscillations in low-dimensional metals; phase segregation and stripes in ferromagnetic and superconducting oxides; polaronic tunnelling in molecular wires; molecular electronics; and computing with molecules. Surface and nanoscale physics Structure of ultra-thin films (study of the factors affecting metal-on-metal epitaxy using medium energy ion scattering and normal incidence standing wave); pulsed laser deposition of magnetic and superconducting structures in ultra-high vacuum; and electronic structure of alloys and surface alloys using synchrotron radiation ultraviolet photoemission. Interface structure modification; improvement of the structure of metallic multilayers using concurrent ion bombardment; and novel low-temperature methods for the production of technological coatings.

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Institution: University of Manchester Department: School of Mathematics Head of Department: Professor Paul Glendinning URL: http://www.mims.manchester.ac.uk/research/mathematical-physics/index.html

Mathematical Physics Lead researchers: Professor V Buchstaber, Professor S Fedotov, H Khudaverdyan, S Lombardo, J Montaldi, T Voronov The Mathematical Physics group covers a wide range of interests spanning pure mathematics, applications and theoretical physics. Current Research interests include: Algebraic structures coming from quantum field theory and statistical mechanics such as Elliptic algebras and corresponding Poisson structures; quantum and classical Yang-Baxter relations. Connection theory singularities and completion of manifolds, universal connections, supermanifolds; problems of quantum physics; quantization; cohomology in physics; bracket structures and homotopy algebras; polynomial invariants of supermatrices. Integrable systems Bi-hamiltonian structures; non-commutative integrable systems and corresponding algebraic structures; three-dimensional integrable hydrodynamic type systems; Frobenius manifolds; algebraic techniques to construct soliton solutions; automorphic Lie algebras. Hamiltonian systems with symmetry The dynamics and bifurcations of Hamiltonian systems with symmetry, particularly of relative equilibria; the effects of the geometry of the momentum map and its degenerations; applications to n-body systems including point vortices. Painlevé equations algebraic solutions; PII hierarchy; higher order analalogues of the Painleve' equations and their Hamiltonian structure. Stochastic differential equations and random walk models and their applications to reaction-transport phenomena, dynamo theory, mathematical biology and turbulence.

Institution: University of Manchester Department: School of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: Professor H Gleeson URL: www.physics.manchester.ac.uk Astronomy and astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor P Diamond) The Jodrell Bank Observatory (JBO) The Observatory is home to the Lovell Radio Telescope and the MERLIN/VLBI

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National Facility which is operated by the University on behalf of STFC. The MERLIN array is being upgraded to substantially increase sensitivity. Full operations will be achieved in late 2009/early 2010. Lead researchers: Professor P Diamond, Professor S Garrington, B Anderson and R Spencer Pulsars The Group studies neutron stars, the collapsed remnants of massive stars, and is involved in searches for, and precision measurements of, radio pulsars. Lead researchers: Professor M Kramer and Professor A Lyne Gravitational lensing The Group has undertaken the JVAS/CLASS surveys and uses lens statistics for cosmology and individual lens systems to determine the Hubble constant. Lead researchers: Professor I Browne, Professor S Mao, Professor P Wilkinson, N Jackson, and E Kerins Interstellar medium, astrochemistry and stellar evolution Research interests include astrochemistry, star formation, physics of dust and masers, molecular clouds, late-type stars, planetary nebulae, and millimetre and sub-millimetre astronomy. Lead researchers: Professor P Diamond, Professor A Zijlstra, G Fuller, M Gray, M Lloyd, A Markwick-Kemper, F Markwick-Kemper and T O’Brien Solar plasmas The group studies the complex interactions between plasma and magnetic fields in the solar corona, and in other astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. Lead researchers: P Browning and G Vekstein Square Kilometre Array (SKA) The SKA is a new generation radio telescope 100 times as sensitive as the best present-day instruments. Manchester is involved in the scientific and technological planning. The group is a key member of the UK and EC design teams. Lead researchers: Professor P Diamond, Professor P Wilkinson and Professor M Kramer Stellar research The Group's interests include novae, x-ray binaries, symbiotic stars, Wolf-Rayet stars and active binaries. Lead researchers: R Spencer and T O’Brien Biological physics (Head of Group: Professor J R Lu) Lead researchers: Professor J R Lu, H Zhang, J C Li, and T A Waigh Biointerfaces Our work has centred on studying molecular structure and dynamics at wet interfaces under conditions mimicking biological and biomedical applications. We are well established in applying leading physical techniques to access direct information at molecular and cellular levels from various biointerfacial processes. The highlight of our recent work has been to apply spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and neutron reflection to reveal molecular features underlying surface biocompatibility, a topic highly relevant to tissue engineering, controlled local drug and gene delivery and

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medical implant deployment. Biocomputing In the last decade, advances in life sciences have gathered a vast amount of experimental information about biological systems at cellular and sub-cellular levels. Now we are facing two big challenges: how do we interpret, analyse the experimental information and relate it to the functions of life? Can we reconstruct biological systems from such detailed information? There is a strong motivation to address these challenges. As a biological system is an integral system, within which components interact with each other. The interaction coordinates the simple behaviours of a biological system at cellular and sub-cellular levels into more complicated behaviours at tissue and organ levels. To understand the functions of a biological system, one has to synthesise the detailed, but isolated biological information obtained at cellular and sub-cellular systems into an interactive system at tissue and organ levels. To tackle the two challenges requires multidisciplinary approaches. Recently, developments in non-linear science, modern physics of excitable medium, applied mathematics, together with availability of supercomputing power, have provided powerful tools to integrate detailed biological information into an interactive system. This forms a new exciting research area – reconstruction of virtual biological systems: from cell to organ. Condensed matter physics (Head of Group: Professor A Geim) Mesoscopic physics Lead researchers: Professor A Geim, P Mitchell, I Grigorieva, S Grigorenko, A Zhukov, and K Novoselov Graphene and other two-dimensional materials We found a new class of materials which are now referred to as 2D atomic crystals. Such crystals can be seen as individual atomic planes ‘pulled out’ of bulk, 3D crystals. Despite being only one atom thick and unprotected from the immediate environment, these materials are stable under ambient conditions, exhibit high crystal quality and are continuous on a macroscopic scale. Nanooptics We have nanofabricated a medium with strong magnetic response at visible light frequencies, including a band with negative µ. A medium is made of electromagnetically coupled pairs of gold dots with geometry and symmetry carefully designed at nanometre level. The 600-700 Thz magnetic response arises due to the excitation of an antisymmetric plasmon resonance. The high-frequency permeability qualitatively reveals itself in a novel effect of optical impedance matching. Our approach shows for the first time the feasibility of magnetism at visible frequencies and paves a way towards magnetic and left-handed components for visible optics. Mesoscopic superconductivity We developed a pioneering technique named ballistic Hall magnetometry, which allowed magnetisation measurements of individual superconductors of submicron size. This work has led to a number of surprising and counter-intuitive observations, such as giant, fractional and ‘negative’ vortices and the paramagnetic Meissner effect. Gecko tape We demonstrated a new microfabricated adhesive based on the same physics

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mechanism that underlies the amazing climbing ability of geckos. The work is rated by experts as the first proof of concept of dry adhesives based on van der Waals interaction. Sub-atomic movements of magnetic domain walls We have also exploited the technique of ballistic Hall micromagnetometry to detect sub-nanometre changes in the position of individual domain walls and observed how they move between adjacent Peierls valleys Low-temperature physics We study quantum fluids, ie liquids at sufficiently low temperatures so that the quantum properties of the particles forming the liquid prevail (for example, the behaviour of fermions is markedly different from that of bosons at these temperatures). Research areas: Turbulence in superfluid 4He in T=0 limit. Vortices in mesoscopic superfluid 3He. Domain walls and vortices in slabs of superfluid 3He. Flow in films of superfluid 4He on fractal surfaces. Lead researcher: A Golov Nonlinear and liquid crystal physics (Head of Group: Professor T Mullin) Lead researchers: Professor T Mullin, Professor H Gleeson, I Dierking, and B Hof The Group’s research is primarily concerned with experimental and theoretical studies of the physics of fluid flows and liquid crystals, ie the properties of isotropic and anisotropic fluids. The length scales range from the microscopic, where the focus is on self-assembly and order, to macroscopic nonlinear effects such as chaos, turbulence and pattern formation. The experimental work is closely linked with theory through the Manchester Centre for Nonlinear Dynamics, which provides a vibrant research environment. The Group’s work is truly multidisciplinary and at the forefront of some of the key areas of physics today. The Group has an internationally recognised standing in the general areas of nonlinear physics and liquid crystal research. The broad range of topics covers areas as diverse as transitions to turbulence and chaos in fluid flows; complexity and clustering in particulate flows; pattern formation in granular materials; structures and order in chiral liquid crystals; laser manipulation in liquid crystals; optical properties of self-assembled systems; polymer and nanotube liquid crystal composites; phase ordering and fractal structures; electro-optic effects in liquid crystals; sensors; self-assembly in biology; spatio-temporal chaos in reaction diffusion systems; and the stability of magnetohydrodynamic flows or transition from low to high dimensional behaviour. The fundamental research impacts on a variety of modern technologies. Transitions to turbulent flow are encountered in many production processes, as is granular particle segregation, eg in the pharmaceutical industry. Liquid crystal related investigations improve the design of devices for extremely fast-switching electro-optic modulators, while most recently the technology is being applied to a variety of sensors. The multidisciplinary research activities of the group are reflected by close collaborations on campus, and with many national and international research groups, centres and industrial partners. Large-scale facilities such as synchrotron sources are used and the Group has facilities in-house to carry out work on fluid flow, including the world’s largest constant mass flux pipe facility. The liquid crystal

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laboratory includes facilities for fabricating specialist devices in addition to extensive equipment for structural studies of liquid crystal systems, optical and electro-optic properties and spectroscopy of soft matter materials in general. Nuclear physics (Head of Group: Professor J Billowes) Laser spectroscopy of radioactive isotopes The analysis of optical hyperfine structures and isotope shifts of radioactive atoms or ions provides a very detailed picture of the nuclear ground state. A fundamental feature that can be studied is the distribution of charge within the nucleus which displays a variety of collective and single-particle phenomena. The unique features of the laser facility in Jyvaskyla, Finland allow measurements on a broader range of isotopes and elements than is possible elsewhere. Lead researchers: Professor J Billowes and P Campbell Exploring the changing shell structure of nuclei We are using a large array of germanium detectors in combination with a large acceptance, braid range spectrometer at Legnaro Laboratory in Italy, to select and study exotic neutron-rich nuclei. Lead researcher: S Freeman Fission fragment spectroscopy Spontaneous fission is currently the best method available for the production of medium-mass, very neutron-rich nuclei. The use of fission sources in conjunction with large arrays of gamma-ray detectors has enabled the group to be at the forefront of the study of excited states of these exotic nuclei. Recent work includes the development of novel techniques and apparatus to facilitate measurements of lifetimes and g-factors, as well as the study of inter-fragment gamma-ray angular correlations as a means of probing spin alignment at scission. Lead researcher: A G Smith Properties of nuclear isomers An isomer is an excited nuclear state which is long-lived because its decay is inhibited by nuclear structure effects. Some isomers have influenced the structure of the present-day Universe because they provide waiting points in rapid-neutron capture reactions which occur in supernovae explosions, and are responsible for the isotopic abundances of the elements in our Universe. Techniques are being developed to enhance the ability to study these nuclei at the proton drip line. Lead researcher: D Cullen Particle physics (Head of Group: Professor R Barlow) Experimental particle physics We are members of several major international collaborations working at facilities in both Europe and the US. Three of these collaborations, BaBar, DØ and NEMO-III are currently taking data, whilst a fourth, ATLAS, is being constructed. The Group is also active in SuperNemo, CALICE, e-Science, and accelerator physics. We have also been members of OPAL and H1. Lead researchers: Professor R Barlow, Professor G Lafferty, Professor F Loebinger, Professor R Marshall, Professor S Watts, Professor T Wyatt, R Appleby, D Bailey, B Cox, C DaVia, R Jones, S Soldner-Rembold, C Schwanenberger, T Wengler, and U Yang

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Theoretical particle physics We have expertise in phenomenology at high-energy colliders, in quantum chromodynamics (QCD), neutrino and Higgs physics, CP violation, supersymmetry and string phenomenology, and the physics of the early Universe. Our projects are often focused on aspects of theoretical physics which can be tested in ongoing or future experiments and we have strong links with the CERN Theory Division. Lead researchers: Professor J Forshaw, R Battye, M Dasgupta, S Donnachie, A Pilaftsis, M Seymour, and G Shaw Photon physics (Head of Group: Professor G C King) Fundamental atomic and molecular interactions Our research interests cover a wide range of experimental atomic, molecular and optical physics. We are interested in fundamental interactions of atoms and molecules with photons and electrons. In particular we are interested in the dynamics of the reactions we study such as the role played by electron-electron correlations. For this work we use the techniques of synchrotron radiation, electron scattering, atom trapping and cooling, laser manipulation of microparticles and nanotechnology. Lead researchers: Professor G King and Professor A Murray Study of surfaces and structures Our research is concerned with the surface morphology and electronic structure of electronic, magnetic and catalytic solid oxide materials, including perovskites and layered perovskites showing superconductivity and giant magnetoresistance (GMR) behaviour, and highly-correlated oxides such as CuO. We use the synchrotron radiation extensively for resonant photoemission, near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS). Over the past few years we have worked at the synchrotron sources at LURE in Paris, the ESRF in Grenoble and Daresbury Laboratory in Warrington. Much of the work at Daresbury is carried out on beamlines MPW6.1 and 5U.1, which allow us to characterise electronic structures of the surfaces and molecular assemblies adsorbed upon them. They also allow us to understand the molecular ordering of the adsorbed systems. We are equipped with a range of surface science techniques including scanning probe microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), x-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). Currently we are studying GMR materials containing cobalt. We are also interested the interaction between organic molecules and supramolecular structures with titanium dioxide surfaces since TiO2 is widely used in biosensors and biomaterials, and is found in novel dye sensitised solar cells. Lead researchers: Professor W Flavell and A Thomas Laser photonics Laser development involving new laser materials, laser cavity designs and pumping schemes. Laser photomedicine involving medical applications of new and established laser sources from basic laser-tissue interaction science and diagnostics to clinical studies. Nonlinear optics involving the development of new nonlinear materials and their application on laser science. Laser applications where lasers and related technologies are applied to a wide range of areas from spectroscopy to position sensing. Lead researchers: M Dickinson and D Binks Spectroscopy of semiconductors The ability to grow high-quality wideband semiconductors based on the GaN materials system is leading to the development of a whole range of new

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optoelectronic and electronic devices. We are involved in the study of the optical properties of nitride based quantum wells and quantum dots with a view to understanding the critical physics and materials issues of these new materials. Lead researcher: P Dawson Theoretical physics (Head of Group: Professor A Bray) Condensed matter physics We have a particular interest in spin lattice systems. Recently we have demonstrated that our coupled cluster method (CCM) calculations are able to describe qualitatively and quantitatively the quantum phase transitions and quantum order exhibited in abundance by such systems. We can now accurately calculate the critical indices describing the phase transitions from a wholly first-principles approach. We also perform numerical work on quantum fluids and solids in two dimensions, including neutron scattering. Another major interest, which is also a topic of practical importance, is phenomenology of high-temperature superconductors (HTS). These materials will have large-scale applications only if their critical currents can be increased from their present low values. Our research is focused on understanding the phase transitions in these superconductors. We are also interested in Quantum Hall systems, and in the properties of semiconductor quantum well structures. Lead researchers: Professor R Bishop, Professor N Walet, Professor M Moore, K A Gernoth, Y Xian, and M J Godfrey. Statistical physics The work in this area relies heavily on field-theoretical methods. This is useful if the systems under investigation have scaling or universal features, as in the well-studied examples of continuous phase transitions and turbulence. We have expertise in evaluating the role played by disorder in phase transitions. We are also interested in systems which are initially far from equilibrium but are relaxing into an equilibrium final state. Statistical mechanics for such non-equilibrium systems is a large and relatively underdeveloped area. We are interested in the development of new approaches, based on quantum field theory, to describe the general properties of these systems. Scaling phenomena associated with the growth of order have been investigated in physical examples ranging from alloys and ferromagnets to ones from other areas of physics, such as the structure of the background radiation left by the Big Bang. We are also interested in developing new applications of the concepts of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics to other disciplines outside physics and we are collaborating with biologists, economists and others on this. Lead researchers: Professor A Bray, Professor M Moore, Professor A McKane and D Fanelli. Nuclear and particle physics Our interests range from the dynamics and structure of atomic nuclei at low energies, through problems involving aspects of QCD in nuclear physics, to lattice gauge theories. A few specific examples of our wide interests in this area are: Using the coupled-cluster method to describe accurately the structure of atomic nuclei. Using effective field theories for the interactions of pions and nucleons in order to describe the structure of the nucleon as probed at modern high-intensity electron accelerators. We are also interested in how the structure of a nucleon inside a nucleus may differ from that of a free nucleon. If the nuclear matter is sufficiently heated or compressed, the nucleons might ‘melt’ completely, leading to a new state of matter: a quark-gluon plasma. This might exist in the cores of neutron stars and might be created in high-energy heavy-ion collisions in laboratories.

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Lead researchers: Professor R Bishop, Professor M Birse, Professor N Walet, and J McGovern Quantum optics, mesoscopics and quantum information We do substantial research in the area of quantum optics, and the closely related area of the response of mesoscopic systems to light or phonons. The techniques used range from rather simple master equations to fully fledged many-body methods. This interesting area has close connections with quantum information processing, much of which is performed on mesoscopics or quantum-optical systems. Lead researcher: Professor R Bishop Biological physics Application of statistical physics techniques to biological dynamics, and the study of nonlinear dynamics in models of biological molecules. Lead researchers: Professor A McKane, Professor N Walet, and D Fanelli.

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Institution: Newcastle University Department: School of Natural Sciences (Physics) Head of Department: Professor A Crowe URL: www.phys.ncl.ac.uk/research Atomic, molecular and optical physics (Head of Group: Professor A.S. Dickinson) Electron scattering phenomena Quantum mechanically complete studies of excitation of simple atoms to specific states are conducted by observing both the scattered electron and the photon emitted in decay of the same atom using coincidence techniques. Ionisation processes are also studied with emphasis on excited ion states. Coincidence methods, observing any combination of the two outgoing electrons and photon from decay of the excited ion state, are used to extract maximum information. Lead researcher: Professor A Crowe Theoretical atomic and molecular collisions Cold molecules - Our initial work in this area examined the possibility of the sympathetic cooling of spin-polarised hydrogen atoms by spin-polarised lithium atoms. Current work is concentrated on photoassociation in cold metastable Helium, in collaboration with the group of F X Gadea in Toulouse. Atomic processes in the early Universe - In nucleosynthesis in the early Universe, helium nuclei were formed along with a trace of deuterium and lithium seven. As the Universe cooled, the ions and electrons recombined forming atoms and molecules. Modelling these conditions requires information on a number of different atomic processes. We have studied reactions involving lithium and HD, the partially deuterated hydrogen molecule. Transport properties of molecules - diffusion, thermal conductivity, shear viscosity etc of molecular gases. Current work is concerned with the gases - methane (natural gas) and water vapour, both of considerable practical importance. Lead researcher: Professor A Dickinson Ultra-fast optics Lead researcher: G Roberts Materials modelling (Head of Group: P R Briddon) Lead researchers: P R Briddon, J P Goss, and J P Hagon We are concerned with the modelling of materials using sophisticated computational approaches, both classical and quantum mechanical. The work addresses problems such as doping in wide band gap semiconductors, in particular the technological applications of diamond and metal oxide semiconductors; the functionalisation of semiconductor surfaces and the microstructural composition and the stability of quantum dots. We are also involved with the development and extensions of our modelling formalism to enable larger and more complex systems to be studied with quantitative accuracy and to enable contact to be made with experiment and technology on an

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increasingly broad front. This also involves the development of algorithms suitable for implementation on massively parallel supercomputing systems.

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Institution: University of Nottingham Department: School of Mathematical Sciences Head of Department: Professor Oliver E Jensen URL: http://www.maths.nott.ac.uk/research/applied_mathematics/quantum_information Quantum Stochastics and Information Group Lead researchers: Professor V Belavkin, M Guta The group undertakes research into quantum open systems, stochastics and information and related areas of non-commutative mathematics and its application to mathematical foundations of quantum theory. The description of quantum measurement processes is an enduring theme, both at the fundamental level of describing quantum causality of measurement in space-times and also at the phenomenological level of quantum instruments as completely positive maps and stochastic quantum differential equations in discrete and continuous time. Researchers work on models of quantum stochastics, particularly of eventum mechanics related to a Dirac boundary value problem in Fock space for the interface of quantum and classical fields as the carriers of quantum measurement information, resolving the long standing quantum measurement problem in a dynamically consistent way. The group carries out work on several directions of modern quantum theory and applications such as the measures of quantum entanglement and capacity of quantum information, non-commutative probability, asymptotical problems of quantum statistics, optimal quantum feedback control. Active areas of study are quantum stochastic processes of covariant eventum mechanics, asymptotical local normality in quantum statistics, quantum optimal entanglement and purification. Complex and Disordered Systems Lead researchers: Professor Y Fyodorov, S Creagh, S Gnutzmann, A Ossipov, G Tanner The group undertakes research into the Quantum and Statistical Mechanics of models where quenched disorder or underlying dynamical chaos play a dominant role. Random Matrix Theory frequently helps to elucidate, to study and to classify the system-independent (universal) patterns of behaviour in systems of this type. The main topics of current interest include: ray dynamics, nodal patterns, chaotic waves, quantum chaotic scattering and resonances, spectral theory of quantum graphs and quantum random walks, Anderson localization, the quantum theory of chemical reaction near threshold and its relationship with the phase space geometry of classical transition states; the complex dynamics of near-integrable systems and the impact of non-integrability on emission from optical resonators, dynamics of three-body Coulomb problems and implications on the quantum mechanics of two-electron atoms; short wave length asymptotics in the elastodynamics of isotropic bodies - applications to statistical theories such as Statistical Energy Analysis; classical and quantum aspects of stochastic web formation, multifractality in quantum and classical systems with disorder; statistics of extremes of random surfaces and correlated random variables and its relevance for glassy dynamics and thermodynamics.

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Institution: University of Nottingham Department: School of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: Professor R Bowtell URL: www.nottingham.ac.uk/physics Astronomy (Primary Contact: Professor M Merrifield) Dynamics of nearby galaxies Studying the formation and evolution of galaxies by looking at the dynamics of the ‘finished products’ in the nearby Universe, digging into the rich archaeological record that these objects have preserved. Research includes: measuring the motions of stars and studying planetary nebulae. Lead researcher: Professor M Merrifield Mapping the epoch of galaxy formation - The UKIDSS Ultra-Deep Survey The Ultra Deep Survey will provide the most sensitive large-scale map of the distant Universe ever undertaken. The aim is to understand how and when galaxies are formed and directly test our understanding of galaxy formation. Lead researcher: O Almaini Linking mass and light in the Universe STAGES: Space Telescope A901/902 Galaxy Evolution Survey. The goal of the STAGES survey is to explore the environmental drivers of galaxy evolution far down the luminosity function. Lead researcher: M Gray and A Aragon-Salamanca Astrophysical simulation The Group has dedicated access to the University's own 1000+ processor HPC facility and is a member the Virgo Consortium. Projects include: The Millennium Gas project, Group Evolution Multiwavelength Survey (GEMS), and high-redshift galaxies. Lead researcher: F Pearce Formation and evolution of galaxies Our work combines detailed studies of local galaxies with observations of the galaxy population at intermediate and high redshifts, covering a broad range of environments, from rich clusters to the field. Lead researchers: A Aragon-Salamanca and C Conselice The nature of dark matter We study weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), axions, the microphysics of dark matter, dynamical evolution of dark matter halos during structure formation, and small-scale dark matter distribution. Lead researcher: A Green Galaxies and large-scale structure Following on from the leading role in the 2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey, we are studying the properties of large-scale structure in the ‘cosmic web’ of galaxies, and the impact of that structure on the properties of the galaxies that delineate it. Lead researcher: S Maddox Dust in galaxies

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Using far-infrared and sub-millimetre instrumentation, we investigate the role of dust in reprocessing starlight, and how this affects the properties of galaxies. Studies involve both distant galaxies to explore evolutionary changes and nearby galaxies to determine the production mechanism of the dust. Lead researcher: L Dunne Experimental condensed matter and nanoscience (Primary Contact: Professor L Eaves) Nanoscience Molecular manipulation, self-assembly and self-organisation, fullerenes, electrospray, electron spectroscopy, nanostructures, biosystems, and instrumentation. Lead researchers: Professor P Beton, Professor P Moriarty, C Mellor, I Notinger, J N O’Shea, J S Sharp and K Schulte Semiconductors Nitride semiconductors, quantum transport, terahertz acoustics, and ferromagnetic semiconductors and spintronics. Lead researchers: Professor L Eaves and Professor B Gallagher Granular dynamics Granular materials are extremely unusual in that they can simultaneously display properties normally associated with solids, liquids and gases, together with other properties which are uniquely their own. We investigate the dynamical behaviour of granular systems using a combination of experimentation, numerical simulations and analytical studies. Lead researchers: Professor P J King, Professor R M Bowley, M R Swift, and K A Benedict Magnetic levitation Using a state-of-the-art 17 Tesla superconducting magnet we are able to levitate a wide range of materials in mid air. Our research has led to new methods of mineral separation and flotation of dense metals such as gold and platinum. Research interests include: diamagnetic levitation, cryogenic levitation, surfaces patterning, and separation through vibration and differential gravity. Lead researchers: Professor P J King and Professor L Eaves Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) Dynamics of nanomechanical single electron transistors (theory). Dissipation in nanoelectromechanical systems (experiment and theory). Quantum effects in nanomechanical resontors (theory). Lead researchers: A Armour, C Mellor, and J Owers-Bradley Ultra-low temperature physics and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Quantum molecular tunnelling, production and exploitation of hyperpolarised species for medical and materials sciences, quantum fluids, and spin dynamics in solid xenon. Lead researchers: Professor A J Horsewill, J Owers-Bradley Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy - Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre (Primary Contact: Professor P Morris)

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Lead researchers: Professor Peter Mansfield, Professor P Morris, Professor R Bowtell, Professor P Gowland, S Francis, P Glover, W Köckenburger, J Owers-Bradley Biomedical applications of NMR Most of these projects involve considerable physics development focused on solving specific biomedical problems: Applications of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) (gut/brain axis, stroke, auditory function, schizophrenia, cognitive neuroscience - perception and action, and combined EEG and fMRI for single trial fMRI). Understanding the relationship between neuronal activity and the BOLD effect. Limits to spatial and temporal resolution of fMRI - combing MRI and MEG. Metabolism studies using 13C MR spectroscopy. Hyperpolarised MRI. Gastrointestinal physiology and pathology. NMR microscopy of pharmaceuticals. MRI of the fetus and placenta. Developments of NMR High-field MRI. Methods for fMRI. Design of RF pulses and magnetic field gradients. Debris detection by MRI. Non-linearity in NMR- radiation damping and dipolar field. Particle theory (Primary Contact: Professor E Copeland) Lead researchers: Professor E Copeland, A Green and P Saffin Particle cosmology Inflation, dark matter, weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), dark energy, phase transitions, primordial black holes, and cosmic strings. String cosmology Braneworlds, M-theory, quantum gravity cosmology, and cosmic superstrings. Condensed matter theory (Primary Contact: Professor M Fromhold) Lead researchers: Professor R Bowley, Professor M Fromhold, Professor T Jungwirth, A Armour, K Benedict, J Dunn, J Garrahan, Y Mao, and M Swift Quantum phenomena in nanostructures Quantum chaos in semiconductor superlattices. Correlation effects in quantum dot tunnelling. Quantum Hall breakdown. Spin polarisation in 2d electron systems. Quantum phenomena in micromechanical systems. Vibronic coupling. Electromagnetic wave chaos in photonic crystals and optical fibres. Transport in magnetic semiconductor nanostructures. Ultra-cold atoms and other quantum fluids Ultra-cold atoms. The effect of the demagnetising field on NMR spectra. Theory of the vibrating wire viscometer. Hydrodynamic description of quantum Hall breakdown. Statistical physics and its applications Dynamics of granular matter. Evolution, aging and genetics. Dynamics of glass formers and jammed soft materials.

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Institution: Nottingham Trent University Department: School of Science and Technology Head of Department: Professor R Turner (Research in Physics and Materials) URL: http://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/school_research/sat/30982gp.html Archeometry and art conservation (Head of Group: Professor M J Baxter) Archaeometry Archaeometry relates to research and analysis applied to items of archaeological interest and on the natural context and environment in which they were found. Our work focuses on the application of statistics to archaeological problems. Current interests include assessing the relevance of modern multivariate statistical methods for archaeometric data analysis, computational applied statistics and visualisation methods applied to archaeological data. Lead researcher: Professor M J Baxter Art conservation science Conservation science is a multidisciplinary subject combining a wide range of materials science techniques to examine and preserve archaeological sites, paintings, ceramics and items of cultural and historic interest. Our work focuses on the development of non-invasive imaging techniques for art conservation, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), multi-spectral imaging and colour science, and portable remote imaging systems. Lead researcher: H Liang Medical and materials imaging (Head of Group: M Bencsik) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging technique widely used in medical imaging. Within medical imaging, our interest is focussed on peripheral nerve stimulation due to field gradient switched in MRI, acoustic noise reduction and magnetic labelling of cells and liposomes. MRI is also applied to imaging flow in porous materials and we use NMR microscopy to assess materials. We also use light microscopy on soft materials to directly view small regions of samples and resolve particles and structures within it. Custom built macroscopes allow us to get an overview of the sample and to follow bulk changes. Optical imaging techniques include optical coherence tomography (OCT), which is a biomedical imaging technique, and multispectral imaging, and are used in conjunction with art conservation studies to monitor colour or spectral changes, and to identify damage, retouching and pigments non-invasively. Lead researchers: M Bencsik, H Liang and D J Fairhurst Observational astronomy and cosmology (Head of Group: H Liang) Our research interests lie in: matter distribution in clusters of galaxies; cluster magnetic field and non-thermal emission; extra-galactic radio sources; and the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect and cosmological parameters. Of particular interest are highly polarised astronomical radio sources, their nature and whether they form a class of radio galaxies of their own. Lead researchers: R J Turner and H Liang Optics and displays (Head of Group: C V Brown) In our work we develop novel bistable liquid crystal displays and research alternative technologies, such as electrowetting, for displays and optical telecommunications applications. Our interests include photonic crystal waveguides, quantum dot lasers

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and infrared colloidal dots. Our work develops liquid crystal and electrowetting-based display devices and includes design, fabrication and testing. Within optics we use optical interference techniques, fibre optic devices and multispectral cameras. Lead researchers: C V Brown, D Fairhurst, F O Ouali, and H Liang Sensors and acoustics (Head of Group: M I Newton) Acoustic waves are vibrations travelling along the surface of a material. The vibration of the surface as the wave passes provides a sensitive probe of any liquid or solid in contact with the surface. Our acoustic wave work focuses on high-frequency surface acoustic waves (SAWs) and quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs). We design and fabricate devices and engineer surface structures, and we create coatings which provide specific binding to analytes of interest. Our devices are designed to be sensitive at the solid-vapour and solid-liquid interfaces, and incorporate knowledge of soft matter systems. Our work involves the design of devices, thin and thick film lithography using state-of-the-art mask aligners, high-frequency characterisation of devices, and surface modification chemistry. Lead researchers: Professor G McHale and M I Newton Soft matter physics (Head of Group: Professor G McHale) Our interests include squidgy materials (colloids and surfactants), liquid crystals (short-range order and bistability effects) and wetting/spreading of liquids (surface tension dominated effects at solid-liquid interfaces). Our work uses rheology and transient capacitance methods to probe how materials respond to external forces and stimuli. We use static, dynamic and diffusive light scattering to probe the structure and dynamics of dilute and concentrated systems, and video and light microscopy to examine liquid structure and liquid droplet shapes. We use lithography, etching, electrodeposition and sol-gel techniques to shape and structure surfaces to control interactions with liquids. Lead researchers: Professor G McHale, C V Brown, D J Fairhurst, D B Neal, and M I Newton Teaching methods and public understanding of science (Head of Group: R J Turner) We are interested in pedagogic research and public understanding of science through our Centre for Effective Learning in Science. A strong emphasis is on conceptual difficulties across the sciences and the relationship between traditional science subjects (biology, chemistry and physics) and modern science subjects (biomedical, environmental, forensics and sport). A core aim is to popularise science amongst children through activities including the use of the Trent Astronomical Observatory. Lead researchers: R J Turner, K Moss, C V Brown, and D J Fairhurst

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Institution: The Open University Department: Department of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: Professor N Braithwaite URL: http://physics.open.ac.uk Astronomy (Head of Group: Professor G J White) Lead Researchers: S Clark, C A Haswell, B W Jones, U C Kolb, S R Lewis, N J Mason, A J Norton, S Serjeant, E A Taylor, and G J White Astrochemistry Our interest is targeted at understanding the chemical and physical processing of astrophysical ices in star and planet formation regions, and the properties of ices in the outer nebular regions of our own solar system and other planet building regions within the interstellar medium (ISM). Specific topics include: Laboratory investigation of molecule formation in the ISM and on planetary surfaces. Observational studies of the interstellar medium, and of protoplanetary and protostellar systems. Infrared and interferometry mission focused studies, and Panspermia. Recent highlights include: Establishing a unique research program that uses synchrotron radiation as a mimic of stellar radiation to study physical and chemical processes. Demonstrating the easy formation of glycine. Developing a unique system that uses ultrasonic fields to trap small micron-sized particles such that they can be processed, and physical and chemical modifications probed, on surfaces similar to those of astrochemical dust grains. Planetary physics In the field of exoplanets, our interest is in understanding the nature of ‘habitable zones’ in extrasolar systems. This work will lead on to our intended involvement in the ESA DARWIN extrasolar planet research programme. Other planetary physics research areas include experimental work and computer modelling of hypervelocity impacts, and modelling of planetary atmospheres. Topics in this area include: Modelling of giant planet shielding of exo-earths. Modelling of post-migration formation of exo-earths. Models of secular resonances in exoplanet systems. Properties of the newly discovered transiting extrasolar planets from the WASP project. Studies of cosmic dust impact processes. Modelling the atmospheres of Mars, Venus and Titan. The main themes of exoplanet research are characterising and understanding the planetary populations in our Galaxy. Understanding the formation and evolution of planetary systems (eg accretion, migration, interaction, mass-radius relation, albedo, distribution, host star properties, etc). The search for and study of biological markers in exoplanets with resolved imaging, and the search for intelligent life as an ultimate and more distant goal. Star formation Understanding processes involved in (primarily) high-mass star formation and in survey science. Specific topics include: Triggered star formation and proplyds. Akari Galactic Plane Survey. Protostellar disks. The environment and life cycle of massive stars. High-redshift starburst galaxies: the Akari and SCUBA-2 all sky surveys. Star formation in local galaxies: the Akari extended galaxy survey and the SCUBA-2 local Universe survey. Binary stars An overall theme of our work is to characterise the binary star population of the Galaxy and other galaxies. Binary stars are the key to understanding stellar structure and evolution because they offer the only way of measuring stellar parameters, such

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as mass and radius, directly. Research focuses on interacting compact binary stars, particularly cataclysmic variables (CVs) and x-ray binaries (XRBs). Specific topics include: Multiwavelength spectroscopic and photometric observations. Modelling accretion discs and the accretion process. Evolutionary studies. Population synthesis studies. Atomic, molecular and plasma physics (Heads of Group: Professor N St J Braithwaite and Professor N J Mason) Lead researchers: S Bergamini, M Bowden, N St J Braithwaite, J Gorfinkiel, N J Mason, and J Harle Laboratory astrochemistry We are conducting an integrated series of experiments to study the physical and chemical processing of molecular ices under simulated space environments, in particular we are investigating: Ion interactions with planetary surfaces (eg modelling magnetospheric interactions with surfaces of Saturnian and Jovian moons. Stellar ultraviolet (UV) and cosmic ray interactions with interstellar grain mantles that pervade the interstellar medium (ISM). Surface catalysed processes leading to the formation of new molecules that enrich the gas phase or result in the growth and modification of ice mantles. Environmental physics (spectroscopy) Chemical and spectroscopic studies of gases and particulates in the terrestrial atmosphere: Biogenic gases in the atmosphere, particulates in the atmosphere, reflectance of vegetation for remote sensing. Also studying biogenic gases in the atmosphere. Collision physics (plasmas) Development of new feed gases for use in the manufacture of semiconductors. A lot of theoretical work, simulations and modelling must be performed before the industry makes any changes in common production and the simulations require reliable experimental data. We are currently compiling an extensive database of the spectroscopic and electron interactions of potential replacement gases. Damage of DNA by UV light and low energy electrons We are involved in a series of European projects to investigate the effect of UV and electron irradiation on DNA and its constituent molecules (the nucleotides, nucleosides sugars and phosphates). Studies in food safety Developing a detection system for microbial spoilage of food using Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass-Spectrometry (PTR-MS). Exploring how ozone treatment may reduce microbial spoilage using PTR-MS to analyse the control of microbial growth. If successful this may allow an on-line ozone treatment of food in commercial outlets to be developed. Quantum processes (optics) Studying collisions with trapped atoms and molecules, and electron diffraction by an optical grating. Electron interactions with molecules Understanding the mechanisms and dynamics of electron collisions with molecular targets across a range of phases and environments.

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Acoustics (acoustic trap, sonoluminescence and electro-acoustic coupling) Studying single bubble sonoluminescence and ultrasonic levitation. Plasma generated acoustic emission. Medical physics Characterising gene- and protein-level events known to mediate the beneficial response of bone cells to therapeutic ultrasound (a clinical treatment used worldwide to accelerate fracture healing; Ultrasound Med Biol 2001;27:579-586). Leading the use of new gene profiling identify molecular mechanisms in the interaction of bone cells with titanium implants. Applications of plasma measurements to monitoring and control Electrical measurements based on electrostatic probes (an RF-biased ion flux sensor, charged particle analysers and Langmuir probes) and electromagnetic probes (hairpin resonator). Time and space resolved optical emission studies. Spectroscopic measurements of electric fields. Free plasma boundaries Understanding the boundaries of plasmas that are not contained in a vessel; in particular the boundary between an atmospheric plasma and the background atmosphere itself. Electric field measurement methods Developing laser-based methods of measuring electrics fields that can be applied in studies of low-pressure plasmas. The study focuses on Stark spectroscopy of noble gases such as argon, krypton and particularly xenon. Plasma ignition / breakdown Studying the initial stages of plasma ignition – the transition between a gas and a plasma. Basic measurement methods are used, including imaging of plasma emission and also advanced measurement methods such as laser-based measurements of electric field distributions. Novel plasma sources for surface treatments Plasma based pre-treatments have been developed for the bonding together of silicon wafers at reduced temperature. The mechanism for the enhanced bondability is being studied. Electronegative plasmas Many applications of plasmas in the semiconductor industry involve electronegative species. The physics of electronegative plasmas is being investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Physics education (Head of Group: R J Lambourne) This work is currently carried out under auspices of the Physics Innovation Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (π-CETL). Teaching and learning ‘difficult’ physics concepts. The use of computers for teaching and learning physics. Developing physics problem-solving skills. The use of web-based experiments and simulations to develop practical work skills. Development of mathematics skills for physics students. Students learning from diagrams and other representations. Context-based learning.

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Functional imaging (Head of Group: Professor S J Swithenby) Lead Researchers: R Hasson and S J Swithenby Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) We have studied cognitive processes in adults and children with autism spectrum disorders. Our approach has been to ask them to carry out tasks that link to known deficits in those with ASD and identify the differences in brain activity between our subjects and control groups. Both face processing and language studies have been carried out. One of our conclusions is that our subjects with ASD appear to lack some specialised networks that facilitate normal behaviour. Inverse problems For many years the Group has contributed to the development of algorithms for solving the inverse problem: the mapping back from magnetic fields measured outside the head to the activity in the brain. This is intrinsically difficult as solutions are non-unique and are weakly constrained. The Group was one of the first to develop robust imaging algorithms, in our case based around a Bayesian formulation of the problem. More recently the work has been extended to explore approaches to appropriate regularisation and to means of making transparent the reliability of the solutions that are generated. Neuroscience and education This is a new area for the Group. Although analysis of the education process is a very mature discipline, almost all the work carried out to date has been focused at the level of behavioural psychology and little attention has been paid to the process at a neurophysiological level. However, new imaging techniques are capable of seeing changes in patterns of activity as an individual proceeds from the status of novice to that of expert. In 2005, we began to plan pilot experiments aimed at extending such work to the MEG modality with the intention of understanding better the effects of educational interventions on students. The initial work is focused on maths education. The long-term goal is more effective diagnosis of learning difficulties and improved teaching strategies.

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Institution: University of Oxford Department: Mathematical Institute Head of Department: Professor N M J Woodhouse URL: http://www2.maths.ox.ac.uk/mpg/ Head of Group: Professor P Candelas

Lead researchers: A Dancer, X De La Ossa, K Hannabuss, Y–H He, Professor Piotr Chrusciel, A Hodges, Professor Lionel Mason, Professor R Penrose, J Sparks, Professor Paul Tod, F Tsou, Professor Nicholas Woodhouse The major areas covered by the research group include:

• string theory • twistor theory • general relativity • quantum theory • global problems in geometry and analysis arising from mathematical physics

Work in string theory concentrates on various aspects of compactification and the mathematics of Calabi-Yau manifolds as well as the dualities of string theory and applications to effective theories of particle interactions. There is emphasis also on twistor theory and twistor string theory both as programmes for the quantization of gravity and with a view to applications to geometry, integrable systems and scattering amplitudes. Research is also continuing into classical general relativity with a focus on mathematical aspects of black holes and cosmology. Quantum theory and particle physics are studied with emphasis on the standard model and applications of noncommutative geometry.

Institution: University of Oxford Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor R Davies URL: www.physics.ox.ac.uk Astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor S Rawlings) Cosmology and galaxies Observational cosmology and galaxies; new galaxy surveys; active galaxies; active galaxy cosmological evolution; physical models of quasar and radio source evolution; the nuclear environment of nearby active galaxies; demographics of supermassive black holes in galaxy nuclei; and measuring the effects of dark energy using type Ia supernovae. Lead researchers: Professor S Rawlings, Professor R Davies, M Bureau, K Blundell, G Cotter, G Dalton, I Hook, L Miller, and N Thatte Theoretical extragalactic astrophysics and cosmology The cosmic microwave background (CMB); galaxy formation; dark matter; galaxy

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dynamics; and the Milky Way. Lead researchers: Professor J Silk, S Kay, S Khochfar, and P Ferreira, Stellar astrophysics Theoretical stellar astrophysics: the evolution of single and binary stars; supernovae; the formation and evolution of x-ray binaries and millisecond pulsars; and observations and modelling of stellar atmospheres. Lead researchers: Professor S J Bell-Burnell, Professor J Miller, Professor P Podsiadlowski, and A Lynas-Gray The interstellar medium (ISM) Probing star forming regions to investigate the formation of low-mass stars and planetary mass objects with the aim of increasing our understanding of these common, but poorly-understood members of the Galactic stellar population and the mechanisms by which they form. Lead researcher: Professor P Roche Astronomical instrumentation Infrared and visible wavelength instrumentation; experimental radio and mm-wavelength cosmology; next generation of Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs); SWIFT - an integral field spectrograph; and the UK Gemini support group. Lead researchers: Professor R Davies, Professor P Roche, G Dalton, I Hook, and N Thatte. Atmospheric, oceanic and planetary physics (Head of Group: D G Andrews) Space instrumentation Instruments currently in space include a composite infrared spectrometer (CIRS), providing data on the thermal structure and composition of the atmospheres of Saturn and Titan, and High-Resolution InfraRed Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS), providing high-resolution data on temperature and composition in the Earth’s atmosphere. Future plans include contributions to Bepicolumbo (Mercury), Lunar Diviner and a Mars meteorological station. Lead researchers: J J Barnett, N Bowles, S B Calcutt, and F W Taylor Earth observation data analysis We analyse data from the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) instrument on ESA’s ENVISAT, and from HIRDLS and TES on Aura; our interests include analysis of temperature, trace gases, aerosols and clouds, to better understand atmospheric processes and to determine trends in atmospheric composition. Associated theoretical studies include the role of clouds, aerosols, and chemistry in the Earth system, with a particular focus on climate change. Lead researchers: R G Grainger, A Dudhia, and P Stier Planetary data analysis Current research includes using CIRS data to study the temperature and composition of Titan’s atmosphere, to investigate the role of Titan’s polar vortex in the production and destruction of these gases, and to investigate the spatial distribution and spectral properties of Titan’s photochemically produced hazes. Lead researcher: P G J Irwin Climate dynamics We study the climate response to influences such as increasing greenhouse gases,

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so as to place bounds on future climate change and to assess the extent to which observed climate phenomena can be attributed to anthropogenic and natural drivers. We lead the Climate Prediction.net Project, the largest climate-prediction experiment yet undertaken, which uses processing power donated by several hundred thousand PC users worldwide to forecast 21st century climate. Lead researcher: M R Allen Physical oceanography Our broad goal is to increase understanding of the global ocean circulation and the impact of the oceans on global climate. Areas of particular interest include the meridional overturning circulation, the development of a ‘next-generation’ ocean model and the use of simple fluid dynamical models to elucidate fundamental aspects of the ocean circulation. Lead researcher: D P Marshall Modelling of Earth’s atmosphere We use computer models of the Earth’s atmosphere, together with a variety of data sets, to help understand the large-scale dynamics and physics of the observed troposphere, stratosphere and mesosphere. Lead researcher: D G Andrews Models of the atmospheres of other planets We have developed general circulation models for several planetary atmospheres. The most advanced of these, for Mars, includes atmospheric transport of dust and water and is being used to study Martian weather and climate. Models of Jupiter and Saturn are being used to study structures such as the Great Red Spot and multiple zonal jets. Lead researcher: P L Read Geophysical fluid dynamics laboratory A range of laboratory experiments is carried out, including experiments with rotating fluids subject to differential heating or mechanical forcing, to address fundamental aspects of the dynamics of planetary atmospheres and oceans. Lead researcher: P L Read Atomic and laser physics Lead researchers: Professor I Walmsley, P Baird, Professor K Burnett, A Cavalleri, Professor P Ewart, Professor C J Foot, Professor S Hooker, D Jaksch, A Kuhn, Professor J Silver, Professor A Steane, Professor J Wark, Professor D Deutsch High-intensity laser-matter interactions The extremely high peak intensities associated with modern short-pulse laser systems can produce electric fields greater than those binding valence electrons in atoms. The behaviour of matter under such extreme, yet transient, conditions gives rise to highly nonlinear phenomena, such as the generation of XUV and x-ray radiation. The novel light sources so produced can be used to study the dynamics of a vast range of matter, as well as its structural changes, on unprecedented timescales. Ultra-cold matter The study of mesoscopic quantum states of matter in the regime where the de

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Broglie wavelength of the atoms is comparable with their spacing, giving rise to quantum phase transitions such as those associated with Bose condensation and superfluidity. The precision with which these phase transitions can be engineered, using stabilised lasers and designer electromagnets, enables the detailed studies of many-body phenomena normally associated with condensed matter, and allows these states to be exploited for applications. Quantum information processing Concentrating both on harnessing the power of quantum physics for computing and cryptography, and on understanding the implications of information theoretic ideas for quantum mechanics. The enormous potential for increased capacity for information processing requires both complex protocols for combating decoherence, and robust control of individual atoms and ions, as well as their collective excitations. The precise manipulation of trapped atoms and ions, are key technologies that are exploited in building prototypical quantum processors. Quantum and nonlinear optics The interaction of light and matter at the quantum level, especially using laser pulses of extreme brevity, with durations in the femto and even atto seconds regime, opens up new ranges of phenomena associated with the timescales of internuclear motion in molecules and electronic motion in atoms and on surfaces. These interactions can be used not only to probe atomic and molecular dynamics, but also to control them. Non-classical optics is also applied to fundamental studies of the structure of quantum mechanics, and its implications for quantum enhanced communications and metrology. Condensed matter physics Biophysics of molecular motors We are currently working on rotary molecular motors. In particular the bacterial flagellar motor and F1-ATPase. Lead researcher: R M Berry Condensed matter theory Our research focuses on how complex behaviour, or ‘complexity’, emerges in a system as the number of interacting objects making up that system increases. These objects may be particles (quantum or classical), nanostructures, cells, computer nodes, biological organisms, humans, financial traders etc. Lead researcher: Professor N F Johnson Correlated electron systems Correlated oxides, Fermi surfaces, molecular magnets, organic superconductors, and µSR. Lead researchers: Professor S J Blundell and A Ardavan Crystallography Three-dimensional birefringence imaging Lead researcher: Professor A M Glazer Magnet development and applied superconductivity High-temperature superconducting magnets. High-temperature superconducting insert magnets for operation at 4.2 k. Pulsed magnet development. Anisotropy of high-temperature superconductors with respect to magnetic field. Inductive resistive transition technique. Critical current measurements in A15 superconductors.

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Lead researcher: H Jones Molecular beam epitaxy growth of metal superlattices, alloys and films MBE techniques, rare-Earth metals, rare-Earth hydrides, RE-TM compounds, spin valves and characterisation. Lead researchers: R C Ward and M Wells Nanoscale physics The group performs research into the properties of a variety of semiconducting heterostructures, devices and carbon nanotubes. We use both optical and electrical techniques including the use of high magnetic fields, low temperatures, Raman scattering and fluorescence. We also study advanced designs for photovoltaic cells. Interests includes: carbon nanotubes, magneto-optics and transport, photo-voltaic cells and energy, and k.p theory. Lead researcher: Professor R J Nicholas Organic semiconductors Our research is focused on carbon-based organic semiconductors, which have emerged over the last decade as promising alternatives to existing inorganic semiconductor technology. One advantage of organics is that they may be processed easily from solution, e.g. using common ink-jet printing techniques. As a result, devices such as light-emitting displays, solar cells and transistors can be made at very low cost. Lead researcher: L M Herz Quantum optoelectronics My main interests have been in making resonant measurements on wide-bandgap semiconductors and low-dimensional systems such as quantum wells, wires and dots. Topics currently being investigated include coherent electron-hole dynamics, excitonic dynamics in wide-band gap materials such as GaN and InGaN, and gain mechanisms in bulk and quantum well lasers. Lead researcher: R A Taylor Single molecule spectroscopy of gene machines Living cells carry thousands of nanomachines that assemble, disassemble, transport or process biomolecules. We study machines of gene expression (the path from genes on DNA to functional proteins) by observing single molecules of gene-expression machinery. Our main tool is single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy, which allows us to measure nanometre distances and study biomolecular interactions. We also study artificial machines and devices, such as DNA-based nanodevices. Lead researcher: A Kapanidis Terahertz photonics We study low-energy processes in semiconductors and nanostructures on a femtosecond time-scale. Our research also involves developing novel spectroscopic techniques, for example we have recently developed a new method of terahertz time domain spectroscopy which allows the full polarisation state of terahertz pulses to be recovered. Lead researcher: M B Johnston X-ray and neutron scattering Magnetic order, unconventional superconductivity, charge order, orbital order, colossal magnetoresistance, heavy fermion behaviour, and strongly correlated

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electron systems. Lead researchers: Professor R A Cowley and Professor A T Boothroyd Particle physics ATLAS The Group is involved in the alignment, assembly, physics and tracker upgrade R&D. CDF (Collider Detector at Fermilab) Lead researcher: Professor P Renton CRESST and cryoEDM (electric dipole moment of a neutron) Searching for dark matter and CP violation. Lead researcher: H Kraus DELPHI This experiment finished data taking at the end of 2000. However, the group is still very active with many analyses and papers in progress. Lead researcher: P Renton GRID (distributed computing R&D) Our Grid projects focus on the need to provide users with a simple and uniform way to access highly distributed computing resources. Lead researcher: J Tseng Linear Collider Flavour Identification (LCFI) R&D for a pixel-based vertex detector for the International Linear Collider (ILC). Lead researchers: A Nomerotski, B Foster, and D Jackson Large Hadron Collider (LHCb) Ring Imaging Cherenkov Detectors (RICH). Lead researchers: N Harnew, G Wilkinson, and J Libby Neutrino programme Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search (MINOS) - a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment with neutrinos produced at Fermilab. SNO - Sudbury Neutrino Observatory. Double Chooz - precision measurement of neutrino oscillations at the Chooz nuclear reactor in France. SOUDAN2 - the detection of atmospheric neutrinos in a 1000-tonne iron calorimeter in the Iron Mine at Tower Soudan, Northern Minnesota, USA. ZEUS An experiment at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg. It studies high-energy collisions between electrons and protons accelerated using the HERA accelerator, revealing valuable information about proton structure. We research into many different areas such as deep inelastic scattering, proton structure functions, QCD fits, heavy/light flavours, and exotics. We also have responsibilities for the running and maintenance of the ZEUS detector. Lead researchers: A Cooper-Sarker, R Devenish, B Foster, and R Walczak Theoretical physics (Head of Group: Professor Dame C Jordan) Theoretical astrophysics Stellar chromospheres and coronae, astrophysical plasma spectroscopy, the Galaxy,

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galaxy formation, active galactic nuclei (AGN), cooling flows, and cold dark matter. Lead researchers: Professor J Binney, Professor C Jordan, and J Magorrian Elementary particle theory Quantum field theory, two-dimensional field theory, conformal field theory and quantum gravity, string theory (M-theory), lattice field theory, phenomenology of electroweak and strong interactions, physics beyond the Standard Model, and particle astrophysics and cosmology. Lead researchers: Professor J Cardy, Professor F Close, Professor J March- Russell, Professor G Ross, Professor S Sarkar, D Ghilencea, A Lukas, M Schvellinger, M Teper, J Wheater, and G Zanderighi Condensed matter theory Statics and dynamics of structure and phase transitions in surfaces. Quantum entangled and disordered systems, aspects of noise in biological systems. Coherence, correlations and disorder in quantum and classical systems. Low-dimensional strongly-correlated quantum systems. Strongly-correlated systems: Kondo physics versus internal degrees of freedom. Soft and biological systems. Constraints, correlations and topology in condensed matter and statistical physics. Statistical (and some quantum) physics of complex systems. Driven quantum systems and low dimensional strongly-correlated quantum systems. Soft and biological matter. Lead researchers: Professor D B Abraham, Professor J Cardy, Professor J T Chalker, Professor F Essler, Professor D Sherrington, Professor J M Yeomans, A A Louis, A Lamacraft, and R Moessner John Adams Institute for accelerator science Lead researchers: Professor W Allison, Professor G Blair, Professor E Wilson, Professor P Burrows, Professor B Foster, Professor M Green, Professor K Peach, G Barr, S Boogert, J Cobb, N Delerue, G Doucas, D Howell, P Karataev, A Reichold, and D Urner International Linear Collider (ILC) Laser-wire, Linear Collider Alignment and Survey (LiCAS), MonALiSA, Feedback On Nanosecond Timescales (FONT), Longitudinal profile diagnostics using Smith-Purcell radiation, and the Beam Delivery System. Neutrino factory International Muon Ionisation Cooling Experiment (MICE) and Energy Loss and Multiple Scattering (ELMS). Institute for Laser Science (Head of Group: Professor P Ewart) Lead researchers: Professor P Ewart, Professor C E Webb, Professor R W Ainsworth, Professor G Hancock, Professor R P Wayne, Professor J P Simons, Professor C C Ashley, Professor R K O’Nions, C R Stone, D A Terrar, A Jephcoat, E D Young, and P Grant Inter-disciplinary research in physical and bio-medical science and technology. Research includes: laser-based diagnostics, nonlinear optics, and laser spectroscopic techniques applied to bio-medical and physical sciences.

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Centre for Quantum Computation A collaboration between Oxford and Cambridge universities to study quantum computing, quantum information processing, quantum theory, and cryptography. Lead researchers: Professor A M Steane and D Lucas Bionanotechnology IRC Lead researchers: Professor J F Ryan, Professor A Turberfield, R M Berry, and A (Physics dept) Kapanidis Research interests: computational bionanoscience, bioelectronics and biosensors, DNA nanostructures, membrane proteins, molecular motors, nanostructured and nano-engineered interfaces, nucleic acid processing machines, scanning probe microscopy, and single-cell bionanotechnology.

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Institution: University of Portsmouth Department: Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation Head of Department: Professor Roy Maartens (Director of Institute) URL: http://www.icg.port.ac.uk Lead Researchers: D Bacon, M Bruni, R Crittenden, K Koyama, C Maraston, Professor D Matravers, Professor R Nichol, W Percival, D Thomas, Professor D Wands

Early Universe and Particle Cosmology Inflation, Brane-world Cosmology and String Cosmology, Primordial Perturbations, Reheating after Inflation.

Structure Formation in the Universe The Cosmic Microwave Background, Galaxy Surveys, Dark Energy, Gravitational Lensing, Relativistic Perturbation Theory, Magnetic fields, Gravitational Waves.

Galaxy Evolution Stellar Population Models, Chemical Evolution, Elliptical Galaxies, Galaxies in the Early Universe. Research at the Institute covers a theoretical and observational cosmology and their interface. It is an associate member of the South East Physics network (SEPNet), and is a member of the following international projects:

• the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS2+3) • the UK National Supercomputer Consortium COSMOS • the Dark Energy Survey (DES) • the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) UK consortium • the WFMOS concept design study for a new instrument on Subaru • the Gravitational Wave European Network (GWEN) • the Astrogrid Virtual Observatory project • the European Network for Theoretical Astroparticle Physics (ENTApP).

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Institution: University of Reading Department: Department of Mathematics Head of Department: Professor Simon Chandler-Wilde URL: http://www.reading.ac.uk/maths/research/maths-research.asp Polymer Theory Group Lead researchers: Professor A E Likhtman, Professor M W Matsen, J Ramirez Within this group, the major activities are

• nanostructured polymeric systems and • polymer fluid dynamics.

Related Groups Computational Fluid Dynamics of Simple Liquids (Department of Mathematics) Physical Chemistry and Polymer Synthesis (Department of Chemistry)

Institution: The University of Reading Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Dr R Stewart URL: www.rdg.ac.uk/Physics Nanoscience and materials Lead researchers: Professor J A Blackman, Professor M W Matsen, Professor G R Mitchell, Professor A C Wright, J Arlt, M Basham, R A Bennett, P A Mulheran, M J L Sangster, and R J Stewart Research on nanoscience and materials is broad ranging and centres on the following programmes:Optical tweezers. Multiphoton photoemission from surfaces and nanostructures. Nanospin - self-organised complex-spin magnetic nanostructures. Elastic conducting composites. Smart materials. Nanostructured polymers. Nanopolymer composites. Nanoporous polymers for supercapacitors. Polymer crystallisation. Electrospun fibres. Reaction injection moulding. Property development in biodegradable polymers. Biomedical polymers. Solvent induced crystallisation. Photonic band-gap polymers. Novel optical security devices. Epitaxial growth of ultra-thin films of transition metal oxides. Ripening mechanisms and kinetics in supported metallic nanoclusters. Tailoring the magnetic properties of metallic nanoclusters. Droplet formation and coalescence. Accelerated dynamics. Simulations of nanostructure evolution. The statistical mechanics of post-deposition island ripening. The statistical mechanics of island nucleation and growth during thin film deposition. New modelling techniques for reducible transition metal oxides – titania nanostructures. Rare-earth and transition metal ions in glasses. Nanoheterogeneities and crystallisation of glasses. Speromagnetism in iron phosphate glasses. Superstructural units in borate glasses. Chalcogenide glasses with exceptionally low network dimensionality. Developments in self-consistent field theory. Block copolymer and homopolymer blends. Monte Carlo simulations of block copolymer melts. Autophobic dewetting. Theory of polymer brushes, Simultaneous structure and dynamics measurements on DNA-molecule adducts and complexes. Oxygen precipitation in silicon. Determination of the elastic small angle neutron scattering cross-section.

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Environmental physics Lead researchers: M Hilton, M P Johnson, and M A Welch Environmental sensing instrument development Investigating optical spectroscopic methods for measuring gaseous atmospheric pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and various hydrocarbons at ground level without the need for samples to be taken for laboratory analysis. Using an infrared spectrometer at one of the largest steel recycling plants in Germany to monitor in real time the carbon monoxide being given off by a 60 tonne electric arc furnace. Developing a low-cost gas correlation methane detector for airborne surveys of landfill sites. Developing a wide-area mid-infrared radiance calibration source to be used as a secondary calibration standard for radiance measurements with spectroscopic devices viewing high-temperature sources of infrared up to 1000K such as found in combustion processes and flames. Remote sensing of aircraft emissions Investigating the impact of aviation on the environment and developing remote sensing methods to measure aircraft emissions. Participating in AEROJET 1 and AEROJET 2 to evaluate the performance of non-intrusive optical measurements of gas turbine engine emissions. Starting a new project called AEROTEST that will use optical methods to test commercial gas turbine engine performance and health. In addition to gaseous emissions the Group has a scanning mobility particle sizer which has been used to characterise the size and number of nanometre-scale particles produced by gas turbine engines. Optical diagnostic methods for non-invasive analysis of blood Performing a feasibility study on the use of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to identify, and if possible quantify, chemical components in blood non-invasively. Atomic molecular and laser physics Lead researchers: Professor K Codling, Professor L J Frasinski, D Dunn, P A Hatherly, J Macdonald, S V O’Leary, and M J Stankiewicz Absorption cross-sections of atmospheric pollutants. Interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with biological tissue. Isotope effects in ionisation of H2 and D2 exposed to strong laser fields. Multiphoton photoemission from surfaces and nanostructures attosecond physics and technology. Foundations of quantum mechanics. High-field physics in the extreme ultraviolet – a flagship project for the fourth generation light source. Tomographic imaging of molecules. Soft x-ray interactions with molecules. Simultaneous structure and dynamics measurements on DNA-molecule adducts and complexes. The Centre for Advanced Microscopy (Head of Group: Professor G Mitchell) Staff work in partnership with research groups at Reading and at other institutions as well as conducting their own research programmes. Current projects include: chiral polymer-carbon-nanotube composite nanofibers, self healing polymers, and kidney stone growth. The Polymer Science Centre (Head of Group: Professor Geoff Mitchell) This is a campus-wide multi-disciplinary programme involving the theory, design, synthesis and physical study of organic and inorganic polymeric materials. Current

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research topics: advanced polymers, security, self-assembly, smart materials, biomedical polymers, crystallisation, nanoscience and technology, processing, and space. Lead researchers: Professor D Cardin, Professor H Colquhoun, Professor I Hamley, Professor G Mitchell, Professor D Bassett, F Davis, W Hayes, and M Matsen The Ultra fast Laser Laboratory (Head of Group: L J Frasinski) Current research: archaeometry, attosecond physics, femtosecond dosimetry, and laser-based medicine. The Wolfson Nanoscience Laboratory (Head of Group: Roger Bennett) Nanoscale or nanostructured materials both in their synthesis, fabrication and their deployment in technology. Current research: catalysis, sensors and data storage, polymer nanostructures, bioscience and pharmaceuticals, and biomimetic nanostructures.

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Institution: The University of Salford Department: School of Computing, Science & Engineering, Physics & Materials Head of Department: Professor I Morrison URL: www.cse.salford.ac.uk Institute for Materials Research Engineering materials (Head of Group: M Moatamedi) Lead researchers: Professor D Arnell, Professor P Webster, M Moatamedi, G Nasr, and J A Newton Spray technology Modern atomisation and spray science and technologies are being developed using modern instrumentation techniques and microprocessors. The latter have facilitated computational modelling of sprays and turbulent flows. Recent projects include: spray cooling and aerosol can design; descaling in petroleum; coating foodstuff; design of shower heads; hospital disinfection; and WMD and turbine injectors. Stress analysis Utilising advanced computational techniques and experimental facilities for the governmental and industrial-funded research programmes, which include: impact analysis; structures under extreme loading; fluid structure interaction; and multi-physics with such applications as biomedical, automotive and aerospace engineering. Functional materials (Head of Group: Professor K Ross) Atomic collisions in solids and ion beam physics Single-ion impacts on surfaces and of embedded nanoclusters. Growth and annealing of near-surface implant damage, relevant to the formation of ultra-shallow junctions in silicon CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) devices and ion beam film deposition. Nanocavities for gettering of metallic impurities in micro-electronic devices. High current beam plasmas and the development of ion sources delivering high ion currents at low energies. Lead researchers: Professor J van den Berg, Professor S Donnelly, and Professor D Armour Chemical physics and biomaterials Use of liquid structures, super-cooled liquids and naturally occurring polyelectrolytes as possible templates for drug-delivery systems and new nutrients. Mineralisation and biomineralisation, polyelectrolyte-surfactant complexes, viral phospholipids and cationic lipids (including their interaction with DNA and RNA) including bioactive (chiral) polymorphs. Molecular dynamic simulations of self-assembled structures. Nucleation and crystal growth, thermodynamics and physical structures. Use of hybrid (inorganic and organic) cements in biomaterials and bioactive glasses. Biosensors. Lead researcher: Professor R Ford Chemistry and nanotechnology Growth and properties of thin films including new chemical vapour deposition (CVD) processes. Synthesis of transition metal and main group CVD precursors. Catalytic semi-permeable membranes utilising Pd on porous substrates. ‘Photonic’ band gap

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materials based on synthetic opals and related materials that are prepared via self-assembly. Advanced surface functionalisation to achieve enhanced and smart surfaces with self-cleaning, anti-bacterial and optical activity. Lead researchers: Professor R Hughes, Professor M Pemble, Professor D Sheel, N Boag, and H Yates Structural analysis and functional properties Magnetic, electronic and structural properties of novel and potentially applicable (nano) materials. Electrodeposited nanowire systems embedded in anodic aluminium oxide. Thin film and bulk materials for information storage, sensing and actuation applications. Novel nanocrystalline magnetic phases formed from amorphous precursors. Hydrogen storage materials for the ‘hydrogen economy’. Magnetostrictive materials for actuator applications in, for example, aeronautics. Processing of mica glass ceramics to create synthetic biomaterials. Porous silicon for drug delivery. Lead researchers: Professor S Donnelly, Professor P Grundy, Professor S Kilcoyne, Professor K Ross, N Mellors, and T Shen Experimental applied optics Photovoltaic materials, for example, copper ternary and quaternary compounds as solar energy converters. Material characterisation using laser-induced-breakdown spectroscopy. Nanomaterials with novel optical properties. Photosensitivity of optical fibres and other glass specimens. Phase modulated real-time holographic techniques. for optical materials characterisation. Lead researchers: Professor R Hill, Professor M Pemble, R Pilkington and H Yates Theory and modelling and Applied mathematics (Head of Group: G S McDonald) Applied non-linear science Analyses of new phenomena involving non-linear wave propagation in materials science contexts. Work draws on general concepts such as fractals, solitons, vortices, patterns and chaos. Nonlinear waves (e.g. fluid, optical, elastic and magnetohydrodynamic). General modelling of peristaltic mechanisms in physical systems. New understanding and predictions of fractal pattern formation. Lead researchers: Professor A Boardman, G McDonald, J M Christian, and D Tsiklauri Atomistic materials modelling First principles of atomistic modelling and prediction of materials properties. The atomistic simulation of structure and dynamics is used to understand and design complex materials with optimal properties. New hydrogen storage materials for mobile applications. Structure and dynamics of molecular solids (e.g. ice and biotech solids). Magnetic phase transitions induced by hydrogen. Lead researchers: Professor I Morrison and Professor K Ross Advanced numerical analysis Full-scale applications modelling is supplemented, for example, by integral equation approaches in finite element methods, whereby pure numerical analysis is applied in focused studies that address complex, real-world problems. Boundary integrals and other theories of partial differential equations. Engineering applications: fluid-structure interactions, loadings and stress. Large scale simulations (e.g. finite element and particle). Lead researchers: Professor S Amini, Professor I Morrison, D Tsiklauri, G McDonald, and M Moatamedi

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Theoretical solid mechanics Theoretical investigation of the dynamic response of elastic structures, especially when subject to external load. A powerful combination of numerical and asymptotic techniques is deployed. Waves, vibration, stability in solid, laminated and composite materials. Impact problems; linear and non-linear elasticity. Dynamical properties of pre-stressed and/or layered media. Lead researcher: K Sandiford Lasers and photonics theory Nonlinear material effects (Raman, magneto-optical, surface wave, metamaterial, band gap and others) exploited in diverse contexts such as laser and device design, waveguides, medical physics and optical fibres. Fractal lasers: solitons, pattern formation and attosecond pulses. Nanophotonics: chiral, magneto-optic, and negative index materials. Laser modelling and applications, drug design, and photonic crystals. Lead researchers: Professor A Boardman, G McDonald, J M Christian, and H Yates Plasma theory and fluid dynamics Research is primarily concerned with investigation of various wave modes in plasmas. Particular emphasis is placed on solar coronal phenomena. Analytical, magnetohydrodynamic and kinetic computational investigations. Solar corona, wind and flares; wave modes in inhomogeneous plasmas. Computational fluid dynamics, magnetohydrodynamics, and plasma kinetic theory. Lead researcher: D Tsiklauri Coding theory Research is focused mainly on the problem of finding optimal error-correcting codes over finite fields. Such codes have found important applications, for example in compact discs or in returning pictures of Jupiter from the Galileo space probe. Coding theory relies on areas of pure mathematics such as algebra, combinatorics and finite geometry. Lead researcher: Professor R Hill Numerical analysis The main area of research in numerical analysis is the solution of boundary integral equations (BIEs). Many boundary value problems of mathematical physics and engineering are reformulated as integral equations over the boundary of the domain of interest and subsequently approximated by finite element type methods. The group is interested in the application and analysis of BIEs, in particular to the problem of acoustic (sonar) and electromagnetic (radar) scattering. Lead researcher: Professor S Amini Continuum mechanics Modern material technology now makes it possible to manufacture materials able to withstand increasingly large deformations, and support large external loads, prior to failure. Our research concerns theoretical elucidation of the dynamic response of elastic structures, especially in respect of their response when subject to large external loads. Specific concerns currently being investigated are the stability of laminated structures and their impact response. Lead researcher: K Sandiford

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Institution: The University of Sheffield Department: Department of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: Professor D Mowbray URL: www.shef.ac.uk/physics Astro-particle theory and cosmology (Professor L Roszkowski) Lead researchers: Professor L Roszkowski, C van de Bruck, and E Winstanley Dark matter Models of dark matter halos and weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Early universe cosmology Brane world cosmology, inflation, particle relics, primordial black holes. Cosmic microwave background (CMB). Gravity Quantum gravity, brane world black holes, quantum field theory in curved space. Particle theory and phenomenology Supersymmetry, grand and string unification, SUSY signatures in rare processes and in collider searches. Electroweak symmetry breaking, the Higgs mass spectra, the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, and CP and flavour violation. Astronomy and astrophysics (Professor C Tadhunter) Solar system Comets, asteroids and the minor bodies of the solar system Lead researcher: D Hughes Active galaxies Active galactic nuclei (AGN), quasars and starbursts Lead researcher: C Tadhunter Interacting binary stars, high time-resolution astrophysics and astronomical instrumentation Lead researcher: V Dhillon Massive stars Their stellar winds in normal and starburst galaxies. Lead researcher: P Crowther Star clusters and star formation Lead researchers: R de Grijs and S Goodwin Molecular and macromolecular materials (Professor R Jones) Nanomaterial engineering Modifying the functional macroscopic properties of discrete molecules by tailoring their chemical and film structure. Toxic gas sensing, organic vapour detection, the detection of chemical liquid droplet agents, and pyroelectric heat sensing. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. Modified porphyrins, calixarenes, thiol-coated gold nanoparticles and polymers such as PPV, polyfluorene and polyethers. Vapour and chemical

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detection. Coated gold nanoparticles. Studying polymeric LB films like polyether systems in order to achieve high ionic conductivity for battery applications and luminescent polymers such as PPV derivatives and polyfluorene. Lead researchers: A Dunbar and T Richardson Theory of condensed matter physics Biological physics, electronic and optical processes in organic materials, magnetic oxides, photonics, semiconductors, and soft condensed matter physics. Lead researchers: Professor G Gehring, Professor D Whittaker, Professor R Golestanian Electronic and photonic molecular materials Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic photovoltaic devices, organic field-effect transistors (FETs), organic microcavities and photonics, and scanning probe microscopy (SPM). Lead researchers: Professor D Lidzey, A Cadby, and M Grell Polymer physics Studying the physical properties of natural and synthetic polymers in thin films and near interfaces and surfaces, with applications in areas such as molecular electronics, hair care, packaging, smart drug delivery. Soft nanotechnology. Lead researchers: Professor R Jones, M Geoghegan, Professor R Golestanian, and J Hobbs Particle physics and particle astrophysics (Professor N Spooner) Experimental high-energy physics ATLAS: searching for the Higgs boson; searching for physics ‘beyond the Standard Model - in particular for the particles predicted by the theory of supersymmetry. Lead researchers: Professor N Spooner, D Costanzo, E Daw, V Kudryavtsev, S Paganis, and D Tovey The search for dark matter UK Dark Matter Collaboration (UKDMC) – Boulby mine. Weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Integrated Large Infrastructures for Astroparticle Science (ILIAS). Lead researchers: Professor N Spooner, E Daw, and V Kudryavtsev Neutrino astrophysics WIMPS, the neutralino, galactic dark matter, ANTARES project (searching for high energy neutrinos), ACORNE (Acoustic COsmic Ray Neutrino Experiment), and KM3. Lead researchers: S Cartwright, and L Thompson Neutrino physics The Group participated in the HARP hadroproduction experiment to provide the data needed to design the target for a neutrino factory, and is now working on the Muon Ionisation Cooling Experiment (MICE), which is tackling the problem of producing a well-collimated monoenergetic beam of muons. The Group has also joined the T2K experiment using the Super-Kamiokande water Cherenkov detector. Lead researchers: C Booth, S Cartwright, and L Thompson e-science and GRID computing The Group is a member of Northgrid as part of the LHC Computing Grid.

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Semiconductor physics – Low dimensional structures and devices (Professor M Skolnick) Mid-infrared physics and devices MOVPE-grown quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), antimonide QCLs, broadband QCLs, QCL properties, polarons, quantum dot-based devices, and disordered structures. Lead researchers: Professor J Cockburn, L Wilson Quantum dots Spin phenomena, coherent control, quantum dot lasers, and nitrides. Lead researcher: Professor D Mowbray and A Tartakovskii Microcavities Polariton phenomena in semiconductor quantum microcavities. Lead researchers: Professor D Whittaker and Professor M Skolnick Photonic structures Microcavity pillars and photonic crystals fabricated by high-resolution electron beam lithography and reactive ion etching techniques. Lead researchers: Professor D Whittaker, Professor M Skolnick, and Professor M Fox Theory Studying photonic crystals and planar semiconductor microcavities; calculating properties of photonic crystals based on Wannier functions; studying cavity quantum electrodynamics and quantum information processing; understanding the properties of the optical parametric oscillator (OPO); and studying surface states on photonic crystals, THz emitters, and excitonic states in low-dimensional structures. Lead researcher: Professor D Whittaker

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Institution: The University of Southampton Department: Department of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: Professor T Morris URL: www.phys.soton.ac.uk Astronomy and Space Science (Head of Group: Professor I McHardy ) Space environment physics We study the Earth's upper atmosphere and magnetosphere - the geospace environment - and its interaction with the Sun. Our current main research projects are based around the Spectrographic Imaging Facility (SIF), and our optical instrument called ASK (Auroral Structure and Kinetics). We also make extensive use of the EISCAT facilities. Lead researchers: Professor M Lockwood, Professor H Rishbeth, B Lanchester, M Ashrafi, A Stockton-Chalk, P McLeod Instrumentation and data analysis for high-energy astrophysics IBIS imaging telescope on the European Space Agency's INTEGRAL space telescope mission. Lead researcher: A J Bird Observational high-energy astrophysics South African Astronomical Observatory Lead researcher: Professor P A Charles X-ray binary systems (XRBs) High mass x-ray binaries (HMXRBs) in the Magellanic Clouds (companion galaxies to the Milky Way). Lead researcher: Professor M J Coe High-energy astrophysics, particularly through the gamma-ray window Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) - Quasars, Seyferts, Blazars etc) and galactic compact objects such as neutron stars and black hole systems. Lead researcher: Professor A J Dean Accretion onto relativistic objects The role relativistic jets, analogies between such jets from galactic binary systems and AGN and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Low frequency radio astronomy (LFRA). Lead researcher: Professor R P Fender Theoretical astrophysics Astrophysical jets and all types of extragalactic radio sources. Lead researcher: C R Kaiser Accretion phenomena and associated outflows Cataclysmic variables (CVs), close binaries, globular clusters, active galactic nuclei, galactic plane surveys, and ultraluminous x-ray sources. Lead researcher: C Knigge Populations of x-ray binaries and other compact objects in galaxies The role of globular clusters in producing x-ray binaries, disk-jet connection in x-ray binaries and AGN, novel time series analysis techniques and applications to x-ray binaries, and AGN surveys. Lead researcher: T Maccarone

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High-energy extragalactic astronomy X-ray cosmology and x-ray temporal and spectral variability of active galaxies, including both relativistically beamed (blazar) and unbeamed (Seyfert) galaxies. Lead researcher: Professor I M McHardy Accreting black holes Stellar-mass black holes in x-ray binary systems to supermassive black holes in the centres of galaxies. Lead researcher: P Uttley Cataclysmic variables (CVs) and pulsating white dwarfs Lead researcher: Professor B Warner Quantum, light and matter (Head of Group: Professor Anne Tropper ) Quantum optoelectronics Semiconductor microcavities, photonic crystals, nanophotonic metals, novel microcavities, nanoporous semiconductors, elastic photonic crystals, x-ray laser imaging of nanostructures, filling holey fibres, carbon nanotubes, semiconductor quantum dots for quantum information, optically pumped short-pulse microlasers, manipulating electron spin in semiconductor quantum wells, making spin transistors, and nanojunctions for molecular electronics. Lead researchers: Professor J Baumberg, Professor R Harley, Professor A Kavokin, Professor A Tropper, D Smith, M Kaczmarek, I Nandhakumar, and D Bagnall Quantum control Studying the use of light to control atoms and molecules. By tailoring laser light fields in space and time, the momentum of the photon can be used to control the position (trapping), velocity (cooling), orientation, and quantum state of the target species. Our interests include: spatially-tailored light beams for dipole-force manipulation; stimulated scattering schemes for coherent amplification of laser cooling, interferometric cooling, and momentum state quantum computers; and coherent control (exploiting quantum interference). Our research is both experimental and theoretical, and ranges from the stabilisation and modulation of continuous wave (CW) lasers, and the design and analysis of resonant enhancement cavities to the quantum optics of coherent interactions and the optimisation of quantum algorithms. Lead researcher: T Freegarde Magnetism and superconductivity The properties of magnetic materials and superconductors are investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Magnetic measurements are made in fields using a vibrating sample magnetometer and a highly-sensitive SQUID magnetometer. Low field measurements are made with SQUID magnetometers and a.c. susceptibility rigs. Transport (resistivity, thermopower) and magnetotransport measurements in fields up to 16 Tesla are used to study vortex dynamics and spin coherent transport properties. Magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements are use for routine characterisation of magnetic films, multilayers and nanostructures. Lead researchers: Professor B Rainford and Professor P de Groot Spintronics Using short pulsed of light to optically orient electron and nuclear spins and directly measure electron spin dynamics. Designing new spintronic devices and

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semiconductor spin devices. Lead researchers: Professor J Baumberg, Professor R Harley, Professor A Kavokin, Professor A Tropper, D Smith, M Kaczmarek, I Nandhakumar, and D Bagnall Nanophotonics Light-assisted and electron-beam-assisted self-assembly of nanostructures from atomic beam. Near-field optical polarisation sensitive spectroscopy and study of energy localisation in meta-materials. Nanostructured photonics frequency selective surfaces, ‘invisible metals’ and metamaterials including quasi-crystal planar structures. Planar metamaterials fabrication techniques (soft lithography). The development of optical magnetic mirror and energy harvesting surfaces and the study of energy concentration in nanostructures. The underling physics of ‘active plasmonics’: controlling surface plasmon-polariton waves in switchable plasmon waveguides. Planar chiral metamaterials in microwave and optical parts of the spectrum. Generation of light and plasmons with e-beams and development of plasmon visualisation techniques under electron microscope. Computational nanophotonics: coupling light to chiral nanostructures and vortex near plasmonic resonances. Toroidal electrodynamics and non-radiating configurations. Nanoscale structural transformations in a single nanoparticle and developing low-energy sub-pico-Joule photonic switching and memory elements. Self-assembly and functionality of nanocomposite structures for nonlinear plasmonics. High-capacity nanophotonics tags for genome sequencing. Artificial layered chiral metamaterials. Lead researcher: Professor N I Zheludev Lasers Mode-locking of vertical-external cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) to generate sub-500 fs pulses using the optical Stark effect. THz generation using VECSEL pulses. High repetition rate VECSELs. Amplification of VECSEL pulses in Yb-doped fibre. Timing jitter charaterisation of VECSELs, and active stabilisation. Lead researcher: Professor A C Tropper Functional optical materials Adaptive gratings in doped liquid crystals and liquid crystal-polymer structures. Modelling of director profile in liquid crystal cells with spatially non-uniform electric fields. Surface effects and microstructuring of hybrid liquid crystal-polymer structures. Nonlinear phenomena in photorefractive liquid crystals. Liquid crystals in nano-environments - liquid crystal filled micro- and nanostructures. Tunable, planar Bragg grating using liquid crystal and electric field. Spatial solitons in liquid crystals. Lead researchers: M Kaczmarek Magnetic applications Magnetic separation techniques and applications. Applications of superconductivity. The use of micro-organisms to assist in environmental remediation. Lead researcher: Professor J Watson Optoelectronics research centre (Head of Group: Professor D Payne) Optical materials Nonlinear and microstructured optical materials; novel glass and fibre; planar optical materials; and silica fibre fabrication. Lead researchers: Professor R Eason, Professor D Hewak, Professor P Smith, and J Sahu

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Optical fibres Advanced fibre technologies and applications; distributed optical fibre sensors; microstructured fibre; novel glass and fibre; optical sensors and instrumentation; and silica fibre fabrication. Lead researcher: Professor J Dakin Light generation and manipulation Advanced solid state sources; fibre Bragg gratings; high-power fibre lasers; infrared science and technology; nonlinear and microstructured optical materials; optical parametric oscillators; and ultrafast laser x-ray group. Lead researchers: Professor D C Hanna, Professor D Richardson, Professor J Nilsson, Professor D Shepherd, M Ibsen, Y Jeong Optical networks and systems Advanced fibre technologies and applications; distributed optical fibre sensors; optical sensors and instrumentation; and scanning near-field optical microscopy. Lead researchers: Professor D Richardson, W Brocklesby Biophotonic microsystems Integrated optics and microstructures; nonlinear and microstructured optical materials; optical biosensors and biophotonics; and ultrafast laser x-ray group. Lead researchers: Professor J Wilkinson, T Melvin Fundamental photonics Infrared science and technology; and physical optics. Lead researcher: Professor H Rutt High energy physics (Head of Group: Professor C T Sachrajda) Lead researchers: Professor S King, Professor T Morris, Professor D Ross, Professor C Sachrajda, B de Carlos, N Evans, J Flynn, and S Moretti Lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) Heavy quark (b and charm) physics and kaon physics, calculating quantities needed to test the Standard Model picture of quark flavour-mixing and CP violation as well as to check our understanding of QCD itself. Part of the UKQCD collaboration. B-physics phenomenology BaBar and Belle projects. B-quark phenomenology, especially CP-violation and the CKM matrix. Exact renormalisation group We research a continuous Wilson's renormalisation group allowing direct investigation of nonperturbative continuum limits and powerful approximation methods. Weak interaction corrections Weak interaction corrections to processes dominated by strong forces. Collider phenomenology Phenomenological studies of the physics potential of present and future high-energy particle accelerators in performing tests of the Higgs sector of the Standard Model and of its minimal and non-minimal supersymmetric extensions, by using numeric

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calculational methods including full-event simulation through Monte Carlo techniques, as implemented in the HERWIG program. Beyond the Standard Model Our research is concerned with the following unresolved puzzles of the Standard Model: the origin of mass; the problem of flavour; and the question of unification. The approaches we develop are based on Supersymmetric Grand Unified Theories (SUSY GUTs) with extra family symmetries or string-inspired models involving D-branes embedded in extra dimensions. Particle physics and cosmology We are concerned with: the origin of dark matter and dark energy; the problem of matter-antimatter asymmetry; and the question of the size, age, flatness and smoothness of the Universe. The approaches we develop are based on ideas of inflationary cosmology and leptogenesis which are related to the latest ideas of physics beyond the Standard Model. High-density QCD RHIC (Brookhaven) and ALICE (CERN) have renewed interest in QCD at high temperature and density, where it may be a colour superconductor. Neutron star cores may also be superconducting. We study this using thermal models, renormalisation group techniques and through weakly-coupled string theory duals to strongly coupled gauge theories. Strings and branes We work on dualities between supersymmetric gauge theories and string theories.

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Institution: The University of Surrey Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor P J McDonald URL: www.ph.surrey.ac.uk Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Physics (Head of Centre: Professor W N Catford) The Centre provides an umbrella structure for the activities of the experimental and theoretical nuclear physics research groups together with the radiation physics, radiation detector technology and medical physics groups and encourages collaborations and interactions between them. In basic nuclear physics research, we aim to identify and understand the unique structures and reactions of exotic states of nuclei having large neutron or proton excess and/or high spin. Radioactive beams play a major part in our research programmes. The main physics themes are: changes in magic numbers and collectivity; nuclear clustering phenomena; nuclei at the drip lines; high-spin isomerism; and hadron physics. In radiation and medical physics, our research is focused on new detector materials and applications and the development of new imaging modalities. Experimental nuclear physics (Head of Group: Professor W N Catford) Lead researchers: Professor W N Catford, Professor W Gelletly, Z S Podolyak, P H Regan, and Professor P M Walker. The primary experimental effort is at GSI/FAIR in Germany and GANIL/SPIRAL in France. Experiments using beam time secured at leading stable-beam facilities in Europe, Australia and the USA provide important complementary input to the physics programme. The TIARA array for nucleon transfer reactions with radioactive beams was conceived and led to completion by Surrey. We have made important contributions to EXOGAM and Charissa, and the implementation of the RISING project in GSI was also Surrey led. Shell breaking and cluster structures Using TIARA we study nucleon transfer reactions, for example using the (d, p) reaction in inverse kinematics to add a neutron to a neutron-rich radioactive projectile. New results for single particle states in 25Ne, for example, gave clear evidence for a monopole shift that produces the new magic number N=16 and breaks the N=20 closure. The group also studies nucleon removal and break-up reactions with radioactive beams produced by fragmentation, for example, the break-up of 14Be reveals internal correlations and possible bound or un-bound tetraneutrons, whilst neutron removal reactions on a range of nuclei at GANIL have highlighted the new N=16 magic number, and the complete breakdown of the N=8 and N=20 magic numbers. Physics near the proton drip line Surrey-led work on beta-decay strength distributions has identified prolate and oblate shape differences in the N=Z nuclides 74Kr and 76Sr. This complements a range of gamma-ray studies of nuclides around the N=Z line that pinpoint Coulomb energy differences and isovector pairing effects, which can uniquely be studied in this part of the nuclear chart.

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Collective and multi-particle isomeric states The Group has extensively studied multi-particle, isomeric states as a means to access exotic nuclear structure away from beta stability, both experimentally and theoretically. In experiments at RISING/GSI we have found that high-spin isomers are produced in projectile-fragmentation reactions with unexpectedly large cross sections, opening a range of new experiments with the next generation of radioactive-beam facilities, such as HISPEC/DESPEC at FAIR. Isomers are closely related to the shell model of nuclei, and our latest results for 204Pt show a surprising stability of the N=126 shell closure for Z<82. Other experiments have identified isomers from fusion-evaporation and deep-inelastic reactions in the regions of 179W and 136Ba. We are also developing storage ring methods for isomer studies at ILIMA at FAIR. Theoretical nuclear physics (Head of Group: Professor J A Tostevin) Lead researchers: Professor J S Al-Khalili, Professor R C Johnson, M Oi, P D Stevenson, Professor J A Tostevin, and Q Zhao The Surrey theorists have played a major part in interpreting and quantifying the flood of new physics insights from experiments at the leading USA radioactive beam facility NSCL/MSU, plus TRIUMF in Canada, and are also well placed to shape and exploit physics from the new FAIR (Europe) and RIKEN (Japan) facilities that are scheduled shortly to come on-line. Invited collaborative exchanges with Europe, the USA and Japan, and the rapid implementation of novel theoretical methods are key to our research. Reactions and structures of exotic nuclei New theoretical frameworks are developed to interpret reaction studies of the rarest nuclei, deducing quantified spectroscopy and driving new experimental campaigns. Our theories of fast, single- and two-nucleon knockout reactions have become robust and quantitative tools for exploring the evolution of the underlying single-nucleon degrees of freedom in the most exotic nuclei and now reveal challenges to the basis of the microscopic, shell-model framework. Our novel few-body reaction methods are being applied to the latest exclusive break-up data. Effective interactions and time-dependent methods Completely-unrestricted-symmetry time-dependent Hartree-Fock calculations have been developed, giving results for giant resonances in nuclei with arbitrary deformation; results that underpin new experimental initiatives at SPIRAL and GSI. An analysis of Skyrme effective interactions has provided a clear explanation of how the density-dependence of the symmetry energy affects the ability simultaneously to describe nuclei and neutron stars. A new effective interaction has been developed for use in beyond-mean-field applications and successfully describes the ‘island of inversion’, where previous effective interactions have failed. Models of proton emission are being improved so as to include realistic forces. 3D nuclear rotation and beyond-mean-field approaches 3D nuclear rotations, such as wobbling motion and chiral rotation, are investigated with a microscopic mean-field approach (3D-cranked HFB) and with semi-classical models dealing with tilted rotation. To discuss structure changes of nuclear many-body systems at high spin, such as the crossover between the BCS-type condensate and the multi-quasiparticle excited states in the band crossing region, beyond-mean-field methods, such as angular momentum projection, are also applied.

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Superheavy nucleus stability and isomerism Stimulated by initial experimental results on isomers in superheavy nuclei, a new theoretical evaluation has shown that many long-lived isomers are predicted, which have longer half-lives than their respective ground states. This will be important for experimental progress. Hadron physics Pioneering studies of possible pentaquark states have shown polarisation to be sensitive to Θ+ pentaquark quantum numbers. We showed that correlations between scalar meson structures and their production mechanisms in J/ψ hadronic decays can give evidence on glueballs. An empirical quantum chromodynamics (QCD) rule connecting non-perturbative and perturbative scenarios in exclusive photo-production reactions has been developed, based on studies of the manifestations of quark-hadron duality. Radiation and medical physics (Head of Group: P M Jenneson)

Lead researchers: D Bradley, P M Jenneson, P J Sellin and Professor N M Spyrou. This research, to develop new detector materials, technologies and applications, is based at the CNRP suite of laboratories in Surrey and in collaborating institutions in the UK and internationally. Medical physics Our established programme in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging capabilities now includes development of the rare three-photon annihilation mode, in order to identify and quantify the oxygenation of tumours, as well as continued work in collaboration with Siemens to progress PET/CT methods. Other diagnostic modalities, such as electrical impedance epigastrography, are being developed as new non-invasive techniques. New methods to quantify the delivery of dose in photon, neutron and proton therapies have been developed, using Monte Carlo simulations and experimental measurements with phantoms. Neutron dosimetry in the medical LINAC field is being developed. The effects of radiation on the extracellular matrix (ECM) are studied in synchrotron-based measurements (Daresbury SRS, Paul Scherrer Institute, ESRF). These studies allow us to identify structural changes occurring in tissue, for example via osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, and have highlighted the localisation of Zn and Sr in synovial joints. For radiotherapy and high-dose diagnostic x-ray applications, new sensors for in vivo dosimetry have been developed based on radiosensitive doped silica glass. Theoretical modelling and experimental methods are then combined to reduce dosimetric uncertainties in situations with complex patient anatomy, reducing for example the concomitant risk of heart disease following breast radiotherapy. Radiation detectors and materials New and emergent materials for radiation detectors and sensors are characterised and developed in the Group’s newly refurbished suite of laboratories, where clean room device fabrication and a range of analytical techniques (photoluminescence, projected image computed tomography (PICT), etc.) can be applied. The Surrey ion beam probes give access to ion beam induced current (IBIC) imaging of devices. Diamond is being developed in collaboration with industrial interests, giving excellent access to ultra-high purity single crystal synthetic material for applications including tissue equivalent dosimeters and radiation-hard spectrometers. Research in CdZnTe is integrated into a major UK collaboration, with Surrey leading in characterisation

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and the development of new contact technologies. In addition, x-radiation detectors have been created from conjugated polymers. The group has also worked on novel Ge detector designs for gamma-ray tracking and on neutron instrumentation, in the crossover field of actual detector applications. Ionising radiation imaging X-ray microtomography research is directed at imaging the fluid transport in living plants. Desk-top x-ray tomography methods have also been applied to the analysis and characterisation of nanopowder process control, in collaboration with chemical process engineers. An ongoing collaboration with industry is developing imaging techniques for probing the interiors of large engineering constructions and apparatus that cannot be accessed directly, making use of different aspects of cosmic-ray muon interactions. Ion beam analysis The Group exploits the 2MV HVEC tandetron, within the EPSRC funded Surrey Ion Beam Centre, for analytical science in medical and industrial applications. A proton microprobe is used with the proton induced x-ray emission (PIXE) method to study topical problems in cell biology and metabolism of metals. Micromachining of PTFE and other materials by the proton microbeam has been developed into a viable technology. The 3He beam from the tandetron is used to apply the Surrey-developed technique of nuclear reactions analysis (NRA), for depth profiling of deuterium, to a range of new problems in water diffusion. Advanced Technology Institute - Physics (Physics Director: Professor J Allam) This Institute is housed in a purpose built facility including laboratories and offices for physicists and electronic engineers, and encourages a strong interaction between the disciplines. Photonics (Head of Group: Professor B N Murdin) Lead researchers: Professor J Allam, Professor B N Murdin, and S Sweeney The electronic and optical properties of ‘designer semiconductors’ can be engineered on the length-scale of an electron or photon wavelength. We investigate semiconductor nanostructures (quantum wells to quantum dots), photonic structures (microcavities and vertical-cavity lasers), and new materials such as dilute nitride-containing semiconductors. The focus is firstly on improving real-world devices such as lasers in CD players or optical communications, which are essential hardware for the ultra-high speed optical communications, secondly on finding new applications for these technologies, and thirdly on research and development on next generation devices with new properties. To enhance the contribution in these areas, new laboratories have been built in the ATI, which now incorporate facilities for the electrical and optical characterisation of materials and devices, including the use of cryogenic temperatures, high-magnetic fields, modulated spectroscopies, and high pressure. The High Pressure Research Centre, uniquely in the UK, provides a means of testing devices with optical and electrical access over a range of temperatures. Band structure engineering and materials and device analysis Work in this area includes Auger recombination in active devices, and high-pressure studies of mid-infrared lasers based on antimonides and quantum cascade lasers. Designs for avalanche photo-diodes, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs)

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and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for plastic fibre systems have been improved. This latter work led to commercial exploitation by the start-up company Firecomms and the devices are incorporated in the BMW 7-series. Ultra-fast optoelectronics and spintronics A new ultrafast laser facility is now set up to study ultrafast dynamics in semiconductors, providing a capability for <100 fs optical pulses from ultraviolet (UV) to the mid-infrared wavelengths. New effects have been seen that do not exist at longer timescales, such as dark pulse formation. Dynamics at mid and far-infrared wavelengths are studied both in the ultrafast laboratory and using the FELIX free electron laser facility at Utrecht. Murdin leads a UK consortium to exploit the FELIX Facility. The first time-resolved studies of the dynamics in SiGe quantum cascade laser structures have been made. In narrow gap materials, which are candidates for semiconductor spintronic devices because of their strong spin-orbit coupling, the first measurements have been made of the spin lifetime in a range of narrow gap bulk, quantum well and quantum dot materials. Theory and advanced computation (Head of Group: Professor O Hess) Lead researchers: Professor O Hess, A Andreev, and D Faux We focus on the theory and supercomputer simulation of the fundamentals and applications of complex materials, devices and systems in ultra-fast photonics, nano-electronics and the biomedical sciences. We have developed the Nano-Modelling Supercomputing Lab within the ATI. Strong collaboration with academic partners and companies in the UK, Germany, Finland, Spain and Denmark integrate the computer simulations with experimental and nanotechnological efforts and market application. Electronic, optoelectronic and quantum information device simulation We have used effective mass theory to study double quantum dot devices being investigated commercially for quantum computation qubits. We have developed the theory and simulation of the nonlinear dynamics of light with gain media in novel semiconductor laser structures, such as quantum dot lasers and for semiconductor optical amplifiers. Optically pumped, vertical external cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) have been modelled in order to elucidate the physics and principles of operation. Wigner-function theories have been developed and applied to the study of nonlinearities in fibre-lasers and strongly chirped pulses. Metamaterials The group has developed a strong theoretical and computational platform for the study of active and nonlinear photonic metamaterials. A multi-space 3D higher-order finite difference time domain (FDTD) methodology (based on generalised non-standard curvilinear operators) has been established for metamaterials that includes material nonlinearity and/or dispersion (Debye/Drude/Lorentz) in combination with Kerr and/or Raman nonlinearity. Recent results have been for slow light in negative index metamaterials (the ‘trapped rainbow’) and for opal-based photonic crystals. Nanophysics We have established a theoretical and computational basis to study temperature and thermal transport in nanomaterials, systems and devices. The quantum thermodynamical approach has been applied to equilibrium systems and will be extended towards the study of non-equilibrium scenarios in nanomaterials involving relaxation processes, thermalisation and decoherence, as well as heat conduction, energy transport, diffusive or ballistic behaviour.

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Nonlinear biodynamics We have developed a model for molecular motors. The aims of the project are to investigate the influence of diffusion constants, external forces, number of filaments and geometry on dynamics of linear molecular motors. These motors are dynamic complex protein structures and undergo constant motion and structural changes under specific physiological conditions. Using numerical simulations, a variety of dynamical responses have been observed, from simple periodic to chaotic oscillations. We are investigating new applications for these properties. We are also studying the nonlinear effects theoretically using Fourier transform rheology. Surrey Materials Institute (Physics Coordinator: Professor P J McDonald) Soft Condensed Matter (Head of Group:J L Keddie) Lead researchers: A B Dalton, J L Keddie, Professor P J McDonald, R P L Sear This Group shares a newly refurbished suite of laboratories within an interdisciplinary grouping (materials chemistry and engineering as well as chemical and bio-engineering) within the Surrey Materials Institute (more than 20 academics). We have a history of strong financial support from industry. Our strengths in both theory and specialist experimental techniques are targeted along three clear themes: biological physics; porous media; and nanomaterials and bionanotechnology. In developing theory, the Group has sharpened its focus on biological physics, especially protein crystallisation. The Group’s position in materials nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging and diffusometry has been strengthened in a recent focus of effort on porous media. Biological physics The experimental observation that a disordered porous medium is the most effective surface for inducing protein crystallisation has been explained by a statistical theory developed by the group, which in turn has opened up commercial possibilities and further theoretical and experimental work to show that nanostructured surfaces, created via nanolithography, and nanotube mats are both effective protein nucleants. Other recent theoretical work has significantly improved modelling of cell signalling during cell division. Experimental studies of carbon nanotubes have identified a variety of peptides that give nanotubes a customisable surface, suggesting potential biological applications, from in vivo biosensors to controlled drug delivery. Other unique experimental work addresses excitons in semiconducting carbon nanotubes, and spectroscopy of biological systems and nanomaterials with a wide range of newly commissioned devices. The Group reported the first spatially resolved NMR measurements of small molecule transport across human skin and has industrial partners to apply this to pharmaceuticals. Our coatings research includes studies of anti-bacterial coatings and biomolecule interactions with polymers. Liquid transport and porous media The Group continues to pioneer innovative low-field magnetic resonance systems for imaging and diffusion studies and its facilities host an active interaction with industry. Cementitious materials account for 10% of western GDP, but there is a need for much more research into the degradation of cements as influenced by evolving porosity, interactions between cement gel and water, and by water transport. Our new physical methods (NMR techniques and ion-beam analysis) are having enormous impact. For example, we have performed pioneering 2D relaxation experiments probing water exchange dynamics between different internal porosity

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reservoirs, and a developing exploitation strategy includes further applications in skin and pharmaceuticals. Other theoretical and experimental work addresses diffusion in glassy polymers, multi-liquid component diffusion, and controlled release from polymer matrices. Novel nanomaterials and interfaces The complementary methods of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and NMR profiling are used to understand the mechanisms of drying, particle deformation and surfactant transport in waterborne polymer colloids. The Group also leads in the study of latex film formation and operates two large EU programmes to create nanocomposite films (with outstanding properties using waterborne nanoparticles) and nanostructured adhesives. New nanocomposites that are electrical and thermal conductors while retaining optical transparency and adhesive strength have been created and bode well for eventual applications in electronics and displays. The Group leads in methods for spinning continuous nanotube fibres with record lengths, tensile strengths, and toughness. Our experimental investigations of films and interfaces utilise a range of state-of-the-art infrared and visible ellipsometers.

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Institution: The University of Sussex Department: Department of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: M Hindmarsh URL: www.sussex.ac.uk/physics Astronomy and cosmology Physics of the early Universe Our main aims are to formulate models of the early Universe, which are based on contemporary ideas in fundamental physics, and to test those models against astronomical observations. A particular strength is inflationary cosmology. Other areas of research include the formation and evolution of topological defects (including cosmic strings), primordial black holes and their astrophysical effects, and the origin and evolution of dark matter and dark energy. Lead researchers: M Hindmarsh and A Liddle Constraining cosmological models In recent years a Standard Cosmological Model has emerged based on adiabatic initial perturbations in a spatially flat Universe with dark matter and dark energy. These two quantities are not well understood and we are using observations, such as the XMM Cluster Survey (XCS) galaxy cluster survey, to constrain them. We are also pioneering the use of model selection statistics to develop robust criteria for the introduction of new physical processes such as isocurvature perturbations, or extra dark energy parameters. Lead researchers: M Hindmarsh, A Liddle, J Loveday, S Oliver, K Romer, and P Thomas Numerical simulations of structure formation We are using N-body/hydrodynamical simulations to investigate the effects of heating and cooling on the x-ray properties of clusters at both low and high redshift and for various cosmological models. Using smaller-scale simulations, we are also pursuing the goal of understanding the symbiotic relationship between galaxy formation and the intergalactic medium (IGM). Although star formation and associated feedback processes can only be treated phenomenologically, the use of numerical simulations allows us to study the effects of galactic winds and metal enrichment on the properties of the IGM. Lead researcher: P Thomas Extragalactic survey science We are active in many aspects of astronomical surveys, covering frequencies from the microwave (Planck satellite), through infrared (the Spitzer, Astro-F and Herschel satellites) and visible (Sloan Digital Sky Survey), to x-ray (XMM satellite). These surveys seek to constrain both cosmological models and the properties of galaxies and clusters. In addition to our extensive work on galaxy surveys, Sussex is leading the XCS galaxy cluster survey, using archival XMM data to construct what will easily be the largest x-ray selected cluster catalogue, probing both cosmology and cluster physics. We are also involved in microwave projects including ESA’s Planck satellite and Arcminute Cosmology Bolometer Array Receiver (ACBAR). Lead researchers: A Liddle, J Loveday, S Oliver, and K Romer

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Galaxy formation and evolution Numerical simulations of structure formation now have sufficient resolution that they can predict the morphologies, colours and star-formation histories of galaxies. However, the simplest models produce far too many faint galaxies, suggesting the need for strong feedback of energy from supernovae and active galactic nuclei (AGN), or large amounts of merging. We have access to a large number of state-of-the-art galaxy surveys, which can be used to test our models. These include the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) which, together, will give a detailed picture of the distribution of stellar mass in local galaxies (z ~ 0.3). We also plan follow-up spectroscopic observations of fainter UKIDSS sources using the AAOmega spectrograph on the Anglo-Australian Telescope, which will enable us to probe galaxy evolution to greater distances (z ~ 0.8). We also have a strong involvement in several space-based infrared surveys: the Spitzer Wide-Area Infra-Red Extragalactic (SWIRE) Survey, the Astro-F all-sky infrared survey, and the Herschel Space Observatory. These will measure the evolution of galaxies out to redshifts z ~ 3, ie beyond the epoch of peak star-formation activity at z ~ 2. Lead researchers: J Loveday, S Oliver, and P Thomas Experimental atomic, molecular and optical physics, and quantum optics Over the last 20 years, lasers have dramatically changed our ability to manipulate and control single atoms and molecules. The Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Group uses the interaction of atoms and ions with laser light and microwave radiation to investigate fundamental physical principles and to explore the ultimate limits of controlling these systems. We perform delicate measurements at the level of single quanta, probing some of nature’s most subtle effects. A spectacular application we pursue is quantum information processing, with the goal of boosting the power of present-day computers by orders of magnitude. Ion-trap cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) Miniature ion traps are an ideal tool for storing and manipulating single atomic particles. Combined with laser cooling, we can control the ions’ position on the nanometre scale. In addition, the light field in our experiments is confined in a small cavity, using two mirrors with ultra-high reflectivity. With this setup, the coupling between ions and photons is hugely enhanced. We therefore achieve an unprecedented degree of control over the light-matter interaction. We can induce an ion to emit precisely one single photon at an exactly specified time and even cast it to an arbitrary temporal shape. Such a single-photon source is an important building block in schemes for efficient quantum information processing. The goal of our research is to implement large scale networks in which ion-based quantum by single photons. This may one day lead to a quantum version of the internet. A requirement for the next-generation experiments is the development of novel, microstructured traps in which we can hold and manipulate long strings of ions. Beyond these practical applications of quantum technology, strongly coupled ions and photons are an ideal system for probing the quantum foundations of light-matter interaction. One example is to use photons to create a so-called entangled state of two ions. This is a purely quantum mechanical feature and has puzzled scientists since Einstein. Lead researchers: Professor W Lange and M Keller Ion-trap quantum technology Our aim is to develop new quantum technologies, in particular, the ion-trap quantum computer where ultracold single ions are trapped with electromagnetic fields and manipulated using laser fields. While such a device could have very important

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commercial and national-security applications due to the existence of quantum factoring algorithms, its realisation would revolutionise modern-day science by allowing true quantum simulations of systems that may be modelled classically only insufficiently due to an in-principle limitation of current computer technology. Our research focuses on applied experimental quantum information science, in particular the development of new scalable methods to build ion trap arrays and the entanglement generation with multiple quantum bits. For this purpose we develop advanced ion trap chips that can accommodate sophisticated ion trap arrays along with features such as on-chip data processing and the implementation of on-chip cavities. We also investigate the transport of 100s and 1000s of ions in such ion trap arrays. Our research merges atomic physics with state-of-the-art nanotechnology. A second research area is the exploration of quantum phenomena, their connection to our classical world, and the exploration of the foundations of quantum mechanics. One of our interests is the interaction of atomic and condensed-matter systems in the quantum domain. Lead researcher: W Hensinger Theoretical quantum optics and cold atom physics Our research covers the exciting fields of quantum optics and Bose-Einstein condensation. The central theme of quantum optics is the interaction of light and matter. Our research also covers the non-classical behaviour of light, and the non-classical behaviour of matter (such as the Bose-Einstein condensation of cold atoms). Quantum optics is a major field for applications of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, and it is strongly stimulated by the experimental activity that has surged since the early 1990s due to the importance of quantum optics for future optical data communication and modern measurement techniques. One of our main interests is in the field of dissipation. All things decay, in one sense or another, and there is much to be learned about the way the decay process takes place in a quantum framework. This can range from the problems of trying to keep Schrödinger’s cat alive, to improving the performance of microlasers. The problems are often challenging, both theoretically and numerically, and have led to the development of novel techniques for solving dissipative problems and insights into quantum measurement.

A particularly interesting range of problems we study is connected with the quantum vacuum, which is not at all empty, but abounds with virtual particles. These cause a variety of phenomena; for instance, they shift the energy levels in an atom when it is placed near a metallic or dielectric surface. The virtual particles can also become real and emerge as quantum radiation, eg from a moving partially reflecting surface. This is related to the Unruh effect.

A current worldwide hot topic is the Bose-Einstein condensation of cold atoms. When atoms are trapped and cooled to very low temperatures, thermal fluctuations become so small that the quantum character of the atoms and their interactions begin to show up. This is something that was achieved only very recently, and it opens up a vast range of new physics. In particular these systems allow unprecedented control over macroscopic quantum phenomena. Another theory research topic is molecular wave packet dynamics. Extremely short pulses (femtoseconds) of light create wave packets, which can be used to probe and manipulate molecular systems, for example, control chemical reactions. We are studying the theory of such interactions, as well as the behaviour of electronic and atomic wave packets. Lead researchers: Professor G Barton, C Eberlein, and B Garraway

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Experimental particle physics Lead researchers: Professor M Pendlebury, L Falk Harris, M Hardiman, P Harris, M van der Grinten, and K Zuber) For a number of years, a major focus of our work has been the search for an electric dipole moment (EDM) of the neutron. The existence of this quantity, predicted at some level by all theoretical models in particle physics, would violate the principle of so-called time-reversal symmetry, and it is thereby intimately linked to CP-violation and to the question of why the Universe contains matter but essentially no antimatter. The small, precise and beautifully elegant EDM experiment, which is carried out at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, in the French Alps, provides a unique probe into physics beyond the Standard Model. We are now developing a new, cryogenic version of the experiment that will be 100 times more sensitive still.

Beams of cold neutrons at the ILL have also been used by our group to make precise measurements of such quantities as the magnetic dipole moment, the beta-decay lifetime and the decay asymmetry of the neutron, as well as the first observation of neutron parity-violating spin rotation due to the weak neutron nucleus interaction.

Our second major area of investigation is that of neutrino oscillations and neutrino mass. Neutrinos are elusive elementary particles that for many years were believed to be massless. They come in three varieties or ‘flavours’. The discovery that they can change from one flavour into another has enormous implications for the Standard Model of particle physics and for cosmology, since these ‘oscillations’ can occur only if neutrinos have mass. Our group is playing a key role in Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search (MINOS), a $200-million experiment designed to measure the oscillations using a beam of muon neutrinos from Fermilab, near Chicago. The neutrinos pass 735 km through the Earth to a large detector in northern Minnesota, where careful investigation is revealing to what degree they have changed their flavour en route. We are also leading development of the COBRA neutrinoless double-beta decay experiment, which has the potential to make a world-beating measurement of the absolute neutrino mass, and possibly also to answer a long-standing and fundamental question about the nature of the neutrino: Is it its own antiparticle?

Theoretical particle physics

The Group’s research interests are in the areas of string / M-theory, particle physics beyond the Standard Model and early Universe cosmology. We enjoy a strong connection with the Astronomy Centre, with a number of members belonging to both groups. There is a wide-ranging seminar series with weekly particle physics seminars, as well as a series of informal lunchtime cosmology seminars, which bring together interested members of the Astronomy Centre and Theoretical Particle Physics group.

The Group has DPhil students from the UK and abroad, as well as several research fellows. It is supported through grants from PPARC, the Royal Society and the European Union.

Sussex Physics and Astronomy is a founder member of Cosmos, the UK

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Computational Cosmology Consortium, which owns a Silicon Graphics Altix supercomputer with 152 processors and 152 GB RAM. The local computing facilities are based around a 4-processor Silicon Graphics Origin 300, an 8-processor SunFire V880 and plenty of UNIX workstations.

Members of the Group enjoy numerous collaborations with colleagues at UK and overseas universities including Santa Barbara, Perimeter Institute (Canada), Imperial, Lancaster, Durham, Royal Holloway, Chicago, Cambridge, Portsmouth, Orsay, NORDITA, CSIC Madrid, Observatoire Besançon, Tübingen, Geneva, Berkeley, Annecy, Oxford, Philadelphia, and Lisbon.

The principal research areas in the group are: Particle cosmology This area of research studies the interplay between Particle Physics and Cosmology during the early history of the Universe. At Sussex we study inflation - the most promising explanation for the precise measurements we are able to make in Cosmology today. Our Group searches for realistic models in the context of particle physics that could provide an inflation with the required dynamics. Our Universe is now re-entering a period of inflation, which makes finding a plausible explanation - perhaps in terms of a source of dark energy - one of our priorities. Modern theories predict that after inflation ended, the hot matter in the Universe may have gone through one or more phase transitions as it expanded and cooled. Phase transitions may have given rise to topological defects such as cosmic strings, and may provide an explanation for the baryon asymmetry of the Universe. The baryon asymmetry, a mysterious excess of matter over antimatter in the Universe, is one of the greatest puzzles in particle cosmology. We investigate if this asymmetry was created at the electroweak phase transition. This requires an extension of the Standard Model, such as supersymmetry or extra Higgs fields. We study properties of the phase transition in these models and investigate the related transport processes to determine the generated baryon asymmetry. Our aim is to derive reliable predictions which will allow to test this hypothesis in the near future at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and electric-dipole-moment experiments. Lead researchers: M Hindmarsh and S Huber Renormalisation group and quantum field theory (QFT) Modern renormalisation group methods have become a central tool in the study of non-perturbative phenomena in QFT. We are interested in conceptual and technical aspects of Wilson's renormalisation group, and its applications to topical problems in quantum field theory, statistical, nuclear, and condensed matter physics. Lead researcher: D Litim Phase diagram of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) The exciting physics of QCD in extreme conditions like high temperature and high density is of very much interest, particularly in view of heavy-ion experiments at LHC (CERN) and GSI (Darmstadt). Central topics of research include dynamical phenomena of hot or dense QCD, as well as the physics of confinement and the strongly coupled infrared sector. Lead researcher: D Litim Quantum gravity Our Group is also interested in the physics of quantum gravity. In recent years,

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renormalisation group studies have indicated that a quantum theory of four-dimensional gravity in the metric field may be asymptotically safe, opening a completely new and exciting field of research. In the context of phenomenological scenarios with large extra dimensions, signatures of quantum gravity may even be seen in high-energy experiments at the LHC. At very large distances, the renormalisation group modifications to the laws of gravity are studied in view of cosmological implications. Lead researcher: D Litim String theory The search for the final particle physics theory that will unify all interactions is also a priority within our Group. We study various aspects of string theory, with particular emphasis on working out different possible compactifications of M-theory, in the context of supergravity, down to the four space-time dimensions we live in. This usually involves conducting technically challenging calculations. We also look at the resulting phenomenology and cosmology. This implies considering topics such as moduli stabilisation, supersymmetry breaking and the role of D-branes in order to get down to the Standard Model of particle physics. Here we combine detailed analytic calculations with algebraic and graphical support from various software packages. As string and M-theory are candidates for the fundamental theory, we continually seek ways of relating them to our other work. Lead researcher: Professor D Bailin Beyond the Standard Model Testing the fundamental theories against reality is one of the most important jobs of a theoretical particle physicist. String and M-theory give us 4D effective quantum field theories which are normally supersymmetric – a highly desirable feature. The resulting spectrum of soft breaking terms can be computed, and values for the masses, CP-violating phases and contributions to flavour changing neutral currents of the SUSY partners can be obtained. This is very relevant for present and future particle physics experiments. We also study other extensions of the Standard Model involving supersymmetry or extra Higgs fields. One of the most compelling reasons to look beyond the Standard Model is to study particle candidates for the dark matter. A combination of upcoming cosmic microwave background (CMB) data from Planck and experiments such as the LHC will vastly increase the precision of measurements of its abundance, and our knowledge about its composition. We are working to improve the precision of the theoretical predictions to match experiment. Furthermore, the Standard Model fails when it comes to baryogenesis and does not offer an explanation for the huge hierarchy between the Planck scale and the weak scale. This hierarchy could originate from the presence of extra space dimensions, in particular if they are warped. We study the particle phenomenology of such models. One of our priorities is to investigate if warped geometry is also the reason for the large hierarchies in the observed fermion masses, including the tiny neutrino masses. We use constraints from electroweak precision data and flavour violation to put bounds on these theories. There are prospects for testing these models at the LHC, B-factories and lepton flavour violation experiments in the near future. Lead researchers: D Bailin, M Hindmarsh, and S Huber

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Institution: The University of Warwick Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor M J Cooper URL: www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/physics Condensed matter, materials physics and spectroscopies Materials physics and spectroscopies Research is concerned with the fundamental understanding of the structure and physical properties of solid materials including metals, ionic and molecular solids, polymers and glasses. This underpins the development of new materials and innovative technologies. The studies are supported by a wide range of facilities such as high-resolution electron microscopy and analytical spectroscopies. There is x-ray diffraction and scattering, which is carried out in-house as well as at synchrotron sources; extensive use of neutron diffraction at national and international facilities (e.g. ISIS and ILL), plus thermal analysis as well as optical, electrical and magnetic properties measurements. There are comprehensive sample-making facilities available including glass melting, ceramic sintering and single crystal growth. Studies are carried out on bulk materials as well as electron measurements of surfaces and interfaces. Superconductivity and magnetism There is a wide range of research centred around the properties of strongly-correlated electron systems. Materials of interest include magnetic and high-temperature superconductors, intermetallic heavy fermions, charge-ordered oxides exhibiting colossal magnetoresistance, and frustrated or low-dimensional magnets. The group has infra-red image furnaces that are used to grow single crystals. Samples are also prepared using vapour transport and flux growth techniques. These materials are studied in our measurement laboratories whose facilities include a SQUID and a vibrating sample magnetometer, and a range of cryostats (300mK to 1000K) and magnets (0-12T) that are used for transport, (resistivity, Hall effect and thermopower), magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements. These measurements are often used as a precursor to neutron scattering experiments that are performed at various sources in Europe and the USA. Elastic, inelastic and small angle neutron scattering techniques are used to examine the magnetic and crystallographic structure of materials, investigate phase transitions, probe magnetic and crystal field excitations, and study the morphology of flux lines in superconductors. Lead researchers: Professor D M Paul, G Balakrishnan, M R Lees, and O Petrenko Magnetic x-ray scattering Studies of the electron spin density in ferromagnets are made using x-ray synchrotron sources at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France and a similar large scale facility in Japan (SPring8, Himeji) using techniques pioneered by the Warwick group. Current interest centres on highly-correlated electron systems such as those materials exhibiting magnetism and superconductivity. Characterisation of the materials is performed at Warwick in collaboration with the Superconductivity and Magnetism research group. The ESRF in Grenoble also houses the UK materials science X-ray beamline for magnetic and high-resolution scattering (XMaS) which is co-directed from Warwick, which is comprehensively equipped for diffraction studies of a wide range of materials. Lead researchers: Professor M J Cooper and J Duffy

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Ferroelectrics and crystallography Research is carried out on the fundamental physics of a wide range of ferroelectric crystals, including new-generation relaxor ferroelectrics with ‘giant’ piezoelectric effects, nonlinear optical crystals with tailored periodic domains for frequency conversion and novel multiferroic materials that combine ferroelectric and magnetic properties. The aim is the understanding of physical properties and phase transitions from the basis of structure in the most general sense, ie, on the average crystallographic, local and nanoscales. A multi-technique approach is adopted combining synchrotron and laboratory-based high-resolution x-ray diffraction, diffuse scattering and imaging, dielectric and optical measurements, neutron diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Lead researcher: Professor P A Thomas Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and diamond This group specialises in the development of EPR and optical spectroscopic methods, and applies these techniques in the study of diamond and other materials/systems. EPR is a spectroscopic method employing magnetic fields and microwaves to study materials and molecules with unpaired electrons. EPR provides structural information, details of electron density distributions, and via the interaction of electrons with nuclei is an element specific probe. The useful properties of materials are often limited by, or dependant on, the presence of defects and impurities. EPR and optical spectroscopic techniques are used to provide an understanding of the nature and incorporation of defects and impurities, which in turn enables the full potential of new materials, such as large synthetic single crystal diamond to be exploited. Lead researcher: M Newton Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) NMR is a site and element-specific probe of the local atomic scale structure and dynamics of materials that complements standard characterisation techniques such as scattering, diffraction and microscopy, especially for disordered systems that are otherwise difficult to study. The group has developed the study of many ‘difficult’ quadrupole nuclei and is actively pursuing techniques to provide very high resolution proton spectra from solids. NMR is being applied to a wide range of areas from fundamental studies of high-temperature superconductors and low-dimensional magnetically correlated materials, to more materials-oriented problems including the structure of glasses and disordered systems such as sol-gels and electroceramics, the determination of sites responsible for catalytic action in zeolites, oxygen ion conduction, the calcination of clay minerals, biological molecules, and supramolecular materials. Lead researchers: Professor R Dupree, Professor M E Smith, S Brown, and A Howes Structural ceramics, glasses and glass ceramics The main emphasis has been on the understanding of microstructural evolution during sintering of Sialon (Si3N4-based) ceramics and their high-temperature mechanical and environmental properties, relevant to heat-engine applications. Research emphasis is now changing to ceramic matrix composites with special reference to interface structure and the development of matrix microstructure in glass and ceramic-based systems. A wide range of studies of special glasses and their partially crystallised derivatives is in progress. Projects on mechanical properties, optical properties (optical fibres and anti-reflection coatings), electrical properties and on the production of glass ceramic components for electronic assembly are currently in progress. Thick film fabrication routes for high-Tc glass-ceramic superconductors

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are being developed. Electron microscopy, the main analytical tool is augmented by a wide range of other techniques, which constitute the leading-edge multiprobe approach employed by the laboratory. Lead researchers: Professor M H Lewis and D Holland Microscopy The group is responsible for a number of state-of-the-art instruments including a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (SEM), a dedicated high-resolution field emission gun transmission electron microscope (TEM), and a digital instruments multimode atomic force microscope (AFM), also there is a standard SEM and a 200kV TEM. The group has a wide interest in many aspects of electron microscopy to investigate many different materials, including ceramics and semiconductors, metals and alloys and more recently polymers. Lead researchers: Professor M H Lewis, R Dobedoe, and D Holland Ultrasonics We are studying magnetic phase changes and related phenomena and developing techniques based on high-power pulsed lasers to generate and detect ultrasound without contact. This novel approach finds applications ranging from high-Tc superconductors to industrial non-destructive testing. Lead researchers: S Dixon and R Edwards Semiconducting materials Layer structures grown using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and chemical vapour deposition (CVD) techniques have many technological applications. Such thin structures show promise for producing a whole range of new electronic devices. The department has made a major investment in both growth techniques and there are extensive state-of-the-art departmental facilities for growing such devices, for analysing their composition and structure using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and high-resolution electron microscopy, and for evaluating their novel electronic properties. Currently 2D, 1D and quantum dot devices and strained silicon germanium layer devices are being investigated. Lead researchers: Professor E H C Parker, Professor T E Whall, and D R Leadley Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) Continued developments in the semiconductor industry are leading towards smaller and shallower devices on silicon chips. We specialise in all areas of the measurement of dopant profiles by this ion beam technique. We have been responsible for major breakthroughs in ion gun design that permit ultra-high depth resolution (sub-nanometre) to be obtained, as well as investigating the fundamental processes responsible for the secondary ion signal, and for mathematical analysis techniques. Lead researcher: Professor M G Dowsett Surface and interface science The interdisciplinary nature of this field covers both physical and chemical aspects of the topic as well as impinging on materials science. The work is focused on well-characterised single-crystal surfaces studied under ultra-high vacuum conditions using a range of specialised electron, photon and ion scattering techniques both at Warwick and at national and international central facilities as well as theoretical total energy calculations. Three main themes are pursued: structure determination in the reaction of simple molecules with metal (mainly transition metal) and oxide surfaces motivated by a need to improve our understanding of heterogeneous catalysis; electronic structure investigations of the near-surface region of semiconductors

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(especially binary and ternary nitrides); and understanding fundamental processes in molecular beam epitaxy especially in the context of magnetic semiconductors. Lead researchers: Professor C McConville, Professor D P Woodruff, G Bell, and J Robinson Astronomy and astrophysics Lead researchers: Professor T Marsh, B Gänsicke, A Levan, D Steeghs, and P Wheatley Binary star evolution We study close binary stars containing compact objects such as black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs. We are particularly interested in the exotic physical processes that drive their interaction and evolution. Observations of compact objects, companion stars and accretion flows are carried out routinely with the world's largest telescopes and satellite missions, including the Very Large Telescope (VLT), Gemini, Hubble Space Telescope (HST), XMM-Newton, and Chandra. Extra-solar planets Our esearch seeks to both discover new extra-solar planets using the Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) telescopes, and to better understand their nature by performing follow-up observations with space telescopes such as HST, Spitzer, Swift and XMM-Newton. Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) GRBs are the most luminous events in the Universe and provide powerful probes of high-redshift galaxies, universal re-ionisation, and potentially gravitational waves. We use the dedicated GRB satellite Swift and a wide range of ground and space-based telescopes, including VLT and HST, to understand what produces these extremely bright events and to employ them as probes. High-speed astrophysics The objects we study are dynamic and can change within minutes, seconds and even milliseconds. We specialise in the high-speed data acquisition and analysis techniques needed to track them. We have led the development and exploitation of the ULTRACAM high-speed, multi-colour photometer. ULTRACAM was the first visitor instrument on the VLT. Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics (CFSA) Lead researchers: Professor S Chapman, Professor G Rowlands, Professor R Dendy, T Arber, D Gericke, B Hnat, V Nakariakov, A Peeters, and E Verwichte Some of the most fascinating intellectual challenges in plasma physics arise from the generic requirement to understand self-consistent nonlinear phenomenology. For example, our recent projects have investigated cosmic ray acceleration at supernova remnant shocks, nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) coupling and flux emergence in the solar corona, nonlinear laser-plasma interactions, strong MHD turbulence, and avalanching transport in fusion plasmas. Such phenomena also present some of the key challenges to high-performance computing, and we develop codes that cover the full range of spatiotemporal scales: particle-in-cell, which addresses the many-particle Maxwell-Lorentz system; Vlasov,

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which combines Maxwell’s equations with a kinetic description of the plasma; hybrid treatments of kinetic ions and fluid electrons; and adaptive MHD. In the solar corona, the study of MHD waves leads to the concept of MHD coronal seismology, a novel technique for the remote diagnostics of plasma structures. Observations include imaging and spectral data from current missions such as the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) and ground-based facilities, and in the future with Solar-B and Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We also specialise in developing and applying novel theoretical approaches to global plasma behaviour, and to the analysis of plasma data. Intermittent plasma turbulence is studied in the solar wind through missions such as Cluster, WIND, ULYSSES and ACE which provide in-situ measurements, and in the context of turbulent transport in fusion experiments with data from JET and MAST at UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) Culham. Elementary particle physics Lead researchers: Professor P Harrison, Y Ramachers, G Barker, T Gershon, and S Boyd BaBar The BaBar experiment at SLAC is built to study that phenomenon called CP violation in the decays of B mesons, which are produced by the PEP-II e+e- collider. The main focus of our efforts is on analysing the experimental data and producing physics results. Our group contributes heavily in the analysis of charmless 3-body hadronic B decays. We are also involved in software development for the BaBar Calorimeter, particularly on distinguishing charged versus neutral particles passing through it. Lead researchers: Professor P Harrison and T Gershon COBRA (Cadmium-Telluride O-neutrino double-Beta Research Apparatus) The COBRA experiment represents a new UK-led initiative to measure neutrino-less double-beta decay. Our contribution is the research and development into providing a low-background environment for the experiment. Lead researchers: Professor P Harrison and Y Ramachers T2K A long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment due to start in 2009 in Japan. The T2K far detector is the Super-Kamiokande 50kt water Cherenkov detector. Lead researchers: Professor P Harrison, G Barker, S Boyd, and T Gershon Neutrino Factory physics This will produce an intense beam of neutrinos, which will be used to make precise measurements of the parameters describing neutrino oscillations and CP-violation for leptons. Our research is directly involved in the overall conceptual design of the beam optics and the choice of accelerator sequence for both the protons and muons involved in the experiment. The group is also involved with the design of the proton driver. Lead researcher: Professor P Harrison

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Theoretical and computational physics Ab initio electronic structure calculations The interaction between electrons is both a key source of rich variation in the properties of materials, and a central challenge to the understanding of these materials by theory and by large-scale numerical computation. New extensions and theoretical developments are undertaken to understand magnetic systems. These include magnetic anisotropy and the onset of magnetic order, to describe disordered systems with short-range order and the modelling of properties of materials in which strong electron correlation effects are important. Advanced electronic structure calculations are also performed to understand surface structures and x-ray spectra. Lead researchers: Professor D P Woodruff, Professor J B Staunton, and J Robinson Molecular simulation Computer simulations act as a bridge between experiment and theory. In order to understand complex fluid behaviour, an accurate theory is needed but the theoretical predictions also depend on how accurately the molecular interactions can be modelled. Computer simulation helps to test the theory independently of the precise molecular model, establishing the reliability and applicability of the results. Starting from details of the molecular interactions the computer is used to simulate a system of molecules: to calculate bulk properties, structure, and dynamics at the microscopic level. Using Warwick’s high-performance computing facilities, as well as national high-end supercomputers, new simulation algorithms, are developed. Lead researcher: Professor M Allen Quantum transport in disordered systems and quantum dynamics The fabrication of semiconductor structures in which one or more dimension is only of the order of the electronic de Broglie wavelength is producing a new branch of physics - low dimensional systems. There are projects on the electrical and thermal conductivity in these low-dimensional systems, as well as the quantum Hall effect, quantum size effects and the influence of phonons on electron transport. The dynamics of quantum gates and junctions has prompted our development of new techniques in mathematical and computational physics, with application to a broad range of intrinsically quantum switching problems. Lead researchers: N H D’Ambrumenil, R Roemer, and B Muzykantskii Soft condensed matter and biophysics Physics can provide a framework on which to build a profound understanding of complex biological and chemical systems. The goal is to understand universal behaviour shared by all similar systems. Techniques drawn from statistical and continuum mechanics are being employed to tackle problems involving both tethered and stacked fluid membranes as well as surface and interfacial phenomena in polymer systems. Lead researchers: Professor R C Ball, J M Dixon, R Roemer, and M S Turner Nonlinearity and self-organisation Chaotic behaviour and turbulence are characteristic of systems with nonlinear equations of motion, which recent developments, particularly in mathematics, are making increasingly accessible. There is work on the precursor instabilities to full turbulence in convective systems and plasmas, as well as more general time series analysis. Lead researchers: Professor R C Ball, Professor S C Chapman, Professor R Dendy, Professor T Marsh, and Professor G Rowlands

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Plasma processes, in astrophysics and in fusion The dynamics of plasmas are challenging because both the long-range electromagnetic fields and the local particle motions are crucial. Codes developed at Warwick span from plasma magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) to radiative transport, and applications range across Solar System, stellar and galactic plasmas. Lead researchers: Professor S C Chapman, Professor R Dendy, and Professor G Rowlands, and T Arber Medical and biological physics Tissue modelling and imaging methods Research is centred on the use of mathematical models to improve understanding of disease processes and to improve treatment. Current research includes modelling the respiratory system during acute lung disease, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to characterise normal and cancerous tissue, compartmental modelling of the dynamics of the knee joint, and the use of high-power ultrasound to create tissue hyperthermia. Lead researchers: Professor A Wilson Biological theoretical physics Behaviour, organisation and transport in membranes provide a rich area for theoretical physics studies. One example being the structure, stability and interactions between self-assembled protein fibres, such as those causing sickle cell disease. New models for myosin V molecular motors and genetic networks with cost function concepts combined with traditional techniques such as simulated annealing are being explored. Lead researchers: J Dixon and M S Turner Solid-state NMR of biological materials Hydrogen-bonding is at the heart of most biochemical processes. Work is currently underway to develop new NMR approaches to characterise hydrogen-bonding including 17O and high-resolution proton NMR. Lead researchers: Professor R Dupree, Professor M E Smith, A Howes, and S Brown

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Institution: University of York Department: Department of Mathematics Head of Department: Professor Stephen Donkin URL: http://maths.york.ac.uk/www/PhysicsResearch Quantum Gravity Lead Researchers: C Fewster, A Higuchi The group carries out research on various aspects of quantum gravity as well as on allied areas of mathematical physics including topics in quantum mechanics and classical general relativity. A particular interest of the research group is quantum field theory in curved space-time. Hawking's prediction of black hole evaporation (based on considerations of quantum field theory in curved space-time) suggests that there are as yet undiscovered interconnections between quantum theory, gravity and thermodynamics. Some of the group’s research is directed towards elucidating these interconnections. Over the last decades, research on quantum gravity has gone hand in hand with a general change in perspective on each of the separate theories of classical general relativity and quantum field theory. At the theoretical and experimental level, the two subject areas have now essentially merged, with very-high-energy phenomena believed to have dominated the era just after the big bang – and hence determined the present structure of the universe. Other aspects of the group’s research are related to such early-universe physics. Quantum Information & The Foundations of Quantum Theory Lead researchers: Professor P Busch, C Fewster, A Higuchi, B Kay, Professor A Sudbery, S Weigert Quantum mechanics is our best theory of the physical world and has been enormously successful in explaining micro- and macrophysical phenomena. It has made possible unprecedented technological innovations in the 20th century, which in turn have enabled the controlled manipulation of single quantum objects. The 21st century is likely to see a new revolution in quantum-powered information technology based on these new capabilities. Fundamental quantum features such as the uncertainty principle and entanglement are now being utilized as resources in the new field of quantum information science. There is good reason to hope that with this fresh approach to the quantum world (through ``learning by doing") we obtain a new angle on the longstanding foundational problems of quantum theory. Theoretical and mathematical work in this group includes both quantum information-theoretic and foundational studies: entanglement theory (classification and measures), quantum state reconstruction (informational completeness, mutually unbiased bases), PT-symmetry and non-hermitian Hamiltonians, quantum measurement theory (the power of generalized quantum observables), the quantum-classical contrast and beyond (probability structures, ontological models), the possible role of quantum gravity in the collapse of the wave packet.

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Quantum Groups Lead researchers: G W Delius, N MacKay, Professor M Nazarov, E Sklyanin, Professor A Sudbery Continuous (“Lie”) groups, such as the unitary and orthogonal groups, have been at the heart of the development and classification of new models of particle physics. At the end of the 1970s hints appeared that, at least in some simple models, there were more subtle algebraic structures, based on Lie groups but deformed in some way dependent on Planck's constant: hence “Quantum” groups. Researchers cover the full spectrum of work from the construction of quantum groups (in terms of fields and physical observables) through to a mathematical examination of their structure and representations. Topics include: Yangians, their representations and their implications for classical representation theory; trigonometric R-matrices, quantized affine algebras and Toda solitons; the reflection equation; separation of variables. Integrable Quantum Field Theory Lead researchers: G W Delius, N MacKay, E Sklyanin Integrable (exactly solvable) models are models of quantum physics – classical or quantum fields or mechanics in one space dimension, or statistical mechanics in two - in which we can examine how various aspects of quantum physics fit together and attempt a synthesis. They are extraordinarily mathematically rich and are the origin of quantum groups and all their associated mathematics. Researchers use classical and first-order quantum (“semi-classical”) methods and mesh these together with various algebraic techniques which can give exact quantum results. This provides a window onto many non-perturbative phenomena such as: solitons and breathers; monopoles and instantons; dualities (strong-weak coupling); defects; boundary excitations. These are at the centre of modern developments in quantum field, string and condensed matter physics. To study them, the group uses extended symmetries and principles such as: Separation of Variables; Non-local and Higher Spin Symmetries; Quantum Groups and Yangians; Supersymmetry; Kac-Moody Algebras and W-Algebras; Factorisation and the Bootstrap Principle. They are a rich source of new mathematics, e.g., in the theory of group representations and of special functions. Fluid Dynamics Lead researchers: K Ilin, Professor V Vladimirov Fluid Dynamics is a broad theoretical and applied area of science and mathematics. One of the central unsolved problems of all contemporary science is the problem of turbulence which is at the heart of fluid dynamics. A great advantage of fluid dynamics is the unity of very interesting fundamental problems with almost unbounded applications. Fluid dynamics aims to give a mathematical description of various fluid flows relevant both to natural phenomena and technological applications. Many fluid flows can be described with the use of asymptotic and variational methods which are at the centre of the research interests of the group.

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The current research of the group covers the topics: asymptotic methods (including the averaging methods and the Vishik-Lyusternik method); variational methods; liquid crystals, biological fluid dynamics, magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), vortex motion and electrophoresis. The group maintains active collaboration with researchers in Cambridge, Leeds, and Rostov. A plan for future research is to focus on Vibrodynamics, a new and flourishing research area which deals with the effects of vibrations on fluids and solids.

Institution: The University of York Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor B Fulton URL: www.york.ac.uk/depts/phys Condensed matter theory (Head of Group: Professor M Babiker) Research is in the following areas: Properties of microstructured photonic materials. Electronic and optical properties of nanostructures and other systems. Computer simulation of complex processes in materials using molecular dynamics. Computational micromagnetics and nanomagnetism. Electrons in nanostructures for spin electronics and quantum computing. Molecular modelling of biological macromolecules. Low-dimensional semiconductors, and quantum and atom optics theory Lead researcher: Professor M Babiker Spin-transport and spintronics, and quantum information and quantum computation Lead researcher: I D’Amico X-ray crystallography Lead researchers: Professor P Main, Professor M Woolfson, and R Greenall Electron loss spectroscopy Lead researcher: Professor J Matthew Density-functional theory Lead researchers: Professor R Godby and M Probert Structure and dynamics of solids and liquids Lead researcher: M Probert Magnetic materials Lead researchers: Professor J Matthew, Professor R Chantrell, and U Nowak Ab-initio many-body theory Lead researcher: Professor R Godby Biophysics Lead researchers: Professor P Main, Professor M Woolfson, and R Greenall Planetary science and star formation Lead researcher: Professor M Woolfson

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Nanophysics (Head of Group: Professor K O’Grady) Current areas of research are: Magnetisation reversal processes in nanogranular thin films and nanoparticles. Magnetisation reversal in exchange biased films. Correlation of crystal and electronic structure with magnetic and transport properties. Spin electronics in hybrid metallic/semiconductor devices. Development of the infrared magnetorefractive effect for the study of spin-dependent transport. Magnetic and thermal properties of nanoparticle thin-film media. Surface crystallography of rare-earth metals on semiconductors. Magnetic materials Lead researchers: Professor K O’Grady and J Wu Spectroscopy of magnetic thin films and multi-layers Lead researcher: S Thompson Low-energy electron diffraction and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) Lead researcher: S Tear Dynamic magnetisation mapping Lead researcher: J Wu Nuclear physics (Head of Group: Professor R Wadsworth) Research concentrates on three aspects: The structure of nuclei under extreme conditions of high angular momentum and neutron/proton ratio (close to the limits of stability), determined using gamma-ray spectroscopy techniques. The study of exotic cluster structures (linear chains of alpha particles) in light nuclei using nuclear break-up reactions. Nuclear astrophysics, in particular the nuclear reactions responsible for such exotic astrophysical objects as novae, x-ray bursters and supernovae. The group is extremely active in the development of new experimental equipment and has made major contributions to both the gamma-ray and charged particle detector arrays used for its research. Large-acceptance Bragg detector for ISOLDE and PHOENIX ECRIS Lead researcher: C Barton Nuclear astrophysics Lead researchers: Professor B Fulton and A Laird Nuclear reactions Lead researcher: A Laird Large-scale clustering in light nuclei Lead researcher: D Watson Isospin symmetry and coulomb effects in nuclei Lead researcher: M Bentley High-spin gamma-ray spectroscopy and heavy-ion radiative capture Lead researcher: D Jenkins

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High-spin gamma-ray spectroscopy, and the structure of exotic nuclei far from stability Lead researcher: Professor R Wadsworth Plasma physics (Head of Group: Professor G Tallents) Research is in two important areas: theoretical magnetic confinement fusion studies, and experimental and theoretical laser plasma work. Areas of current research include: Nonlinear theories of tokamak plasma instabilities, including explosive plasma instabilities that may provide a model for edge localised mode (ELM) events. Theoretical studies of the self-consistent interaction of energetic ions (produced either by fusion reactions or heating schemes) and plasma waves in tokamaks. Investigating and understanding x-ray laser action produced in plasmas formed from laser-heated solids. Application of x-ray lasers to measure the opacity of plasmas relevant to the convection zone of the sun. The study in the laboratory of plasmas relevant to astrophysical problems. The effects of extreme electric fields on plasma emission. Lower temperature plasmas of technological interest created by lasers. Propagation of relativistically intense laser pulses, and parametric plasma instabilities Lead researcher: H Barr Laser ablation simulation, laser produced plasma theory, and laser XUV/X-ray laser development Lead researchers: Professor G Tallents and Professor G Pert Magnetic confinement fusion Lead researcher: Professor H Wilson Theory of magnetically confined plasmas Lead researchers: R Vann X-ray scattering in plasmas and laboratory astrophysics Lead researcher: N Woolsey

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Universities in SCOTLAND

Institution: The University of Aberdeen Department: Department of Physics and School of Medical Sciences Head of Department: N Strachan (Physics) URL: www.abdn.ac.uk/physics Computational modelling (Head of Group: N Strachan) Lead researchers: N Strachan, N Pilgrim, G Dunn, and O Rotariu Computational and mathematical modelling Our mathematical modelling group is interested in interdisciplinary collaborations to exploit the ability of physicists to understand the world mathematically. It currently has several diverse projects underway including: modelling the transmission of zoonotic pathogens (eg Campylobacter and E. coli O157); modelling semiconductor devices and simulating the treatment of cancer by delivery of drugs using magnetic particle technologies (both using Monte Carlo methods). Recently, the group has become interested in modelling the history of meteorite impacts on the Earth in order to determine the true frequency of extinction level events. Terahertz (THz) physics (Head of Group: G M Dunn) Lead researchers: N Pilgrim and Redpath This involves the development and exploitation of viable THz sources for sensing applications ranging from high-resolution radar, security scanners and IED detectors to medical scanning equipment for the detection of skin cancer, and burns imaging. Solid state and materials (Head of Group: J M S Skakle) Lead researchers: J Skakle, A Mclaughlin, I Gibson, and L Popovic The ethos of our research is the relationship between the atomic/crystal structure, the chemical composition and the physical properties of solids. Electroceramics The discovery of high-temperature superconductivity has reopened a wide interest in such complex perovkites containing first row transition metals. The electrical and magnetic properties of these systems are highly varied; properties range from metallic to insulating, from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic, and from cationic to anionic conductivity. Thus new materials with interesting electrical and magnetic properties are investigated using diffraction (x-ray, neutron, electron) and spectroscopic methods (Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron spin resonance (ESR)), together with AC impedance and magnetic measurements. Materials of interest include perovskite-related materials, ruthenocuprates and palmierites. Biomaterials This involves the synthesis and characterisation of bioceramics, particularly doping materials with the aim of improving their properties. The current focus of the work is on bone replacement materials, particularly for areas such as spinal fusion. Collaboration with the Medical Biophysics group also informs the work by broadening

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our research to include analysis of bone. As with electroceramics, materials are characterised using diffraction (x-ray and neutron) and spectroscopic methods (FTIR, Raman, solid state NMR and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)) and are assessed for cell interaction. Medical biophysics (Head of Group: Professor R M Aspden) Biological materials Tissues that play a mechanical role in the human body have complex structures. Relationships between composition, structure and function are still poorly understood. We are using a variety of methods, including diffraction (neutron and x-ray), spectroscopic (FTIR and Raman) and mechanical, to characterise these materials. Supported by theoretical analyses, including models of stress-transfer in fibre-composite materials, this is leading to a better understanding of these materials and assisting in the development of novel materials for implantation and surgical repair. Lead researchers: R M Aspden, J M S Skakle, and I R Gibson Biomechanics of the spine The human spine is curved and flexible and has a very complicated structure. This makes analysis of its mechanical behaviour difficult. We have developed a number of novel approaches, including both static and dynamic modelling, to gain a better understanding of how it functions and fails. Magnetic resonance imaging of individuals carrying various loads in different postures, using our unique positional MR scanner, is being used to test some of these ideas. Lead researchers: R M Aspden and J R Meakin Biomarkers from medical images Images are fundamental to medical science and invaluable for diagnosis and assessment of patients. Much of this, however, is done qualitatively. We are developing a number of methods to obtain quantitative information from orthopaedic radiographs using shape and texture modelling. Combined with various statistical methods these appear to have great power to identify individuals at greatest risk and those whose disease is likely to progress most rapidly. Lead researchers: R M Aspden and J S Gregory Quantum and gravitational physics (Head of Group: C Wang) Quantum optics and spacetime structure Atoms and molecules can be considered as coherent waves called matter waves. Like lasers, matter waves can be configured into an interferometer. Their sensitivity as a detector of extremely small changes in acceleration brings about a number of exciting technical applications in navigation and underground exploration. In addition, they are ideal for studying fundamental physics questions including vacuum fluctuations and quantum gravity. Combined theoretical studies at Aberdeen and experimental investigations at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) as well as other UK/EU institutions are being pursued in this area. Nonlinear dynamics and chaos (Head of Group: Professor C Grebogi) Lead researchers: Professor C Grebogi, G Karolyi, A Moura, M C Romano, and M Thiel

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Fundaments of nonlinear dynamics Control of chaotic systems. Dynamics and control of complex systems with multiple spatial and temporal scales. The effects of noise and perturbations in chaotic systems. The study of chaotic scattering. Spatio-temporal complexity in dynamical systems. Recurrences of dynamical systems. Data-driven modelling Nonlinear time-series analysis of experimental data. Reconstruction of the intrinsic dynamics of chaotic systems from observed time series. Quantification of the asymmetry of the coupling based on time series. Chaotic fluid dynamics Advection of particles by chaotic fluid flows. Study of chemical reactions taking place on chaotic flows, with applications to environmental flows. Study of biological processes taking place in flows. Synchronisation analysis. Complex network theory The statistical physics of transport and communications in complex networks. Complex dynamics of oscillating networks: information transfer, synchronisation and control. Systems biology Modelling ion homeostasis in bacteria. Modelling DNA replication in fungi. Modelling stress responses of fungi. Modelling of the influence of peptidoglycan on mechanosensitive channels of bacteria. Modelling elongation of peptide chain during protein synthesis. Chaotic transport and activity in blood flow. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Head of Group: Professor T Redpath) MRI in heart disease Development of MR imaging methods and data analysis techniques in ischaemic heart disease. Special interest in perfusion imaging. Lead researchers: Professor T Redpath and M Norton MRI in oncology Development of MR imaging methods and data analysis techniques in patients with breast, rectal and cervical cancer. Special interest in the measurement of abnormal blood vessel permeability and its value in assessing response to chemotherapy. Lead researchers: Professor T Redpath and S Semple MRI in neurology Development and application of functional and volumetric MR imaging and data analysis methods in brain imaging in old age and in autistic spectrum disorders. Lead researcher: G Waiter MRI Instrumentation (Head of Group: H Seton) Applications of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) to low-field MRI Compared to the present generation of clinical MRI systems which operate at field strengths in the 1-3 T range, low-field MRI has greatly reduced costs and can provide biological information unavailable at high field. We have developed systems based on resistive and permanent magnets, with field strengths in the range 0.01 – 0.02 T, for imaging limbs and finger joints. The poor inherent SNR at low field can be

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compensated by reducing the Johnson noise of the receiver coil. In our systems, signals are received with ultra-low noise, superconducting coils coupled to SQUID amplifiers. RF coils for high-field MRI Biomedical physics operate a 4.7 T small bore MRI system which has been used in preclinical studies of various diseases. As part of this, we have developed specialised RF coils, MRI pulse sequences and data processing methods. Novel MRI techniques (Head of Group: Professor D J Lurie) Our research is concerned with developing new methods based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for application to problems in biomedical research, and beyond. There are three main research projects: Fast field-cycling (FFC) MRI In conventional MRI the patient is placed inside a strong magnet, typically around 1.5 Tesla. The applied magnetic field is held constant and must be absolutely stable. In FFC-MRI, the magnetic field is deliberately switched up and down during the collection of MR images, in order to extract valuable information about the way in which the body's NMR properties change with magnetic field. We are working on special magnets, hardware, software and data analysis tools in order to exploit FFC-MRI. Imaging free radicals by MRI Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons, which are involved in many diseases. We are working on double magnetic-resonance methods to detect and image the distribution of free radicals in biological samples. Our method, called proton-electron double-resonance imaging (PEDRI), combines electron spin resonance (ESR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to detect the presence of free radicals using the Overhauser effect. We are working on methods to improve the efficiency, sensitivity and resolution of these techniques. Imaging solid materials by MRI Conventional MRI can produce incredibly detailed images of the body's soft tissues, but is not able to image solid materials like bone, and also struggles to image rigid tissues such as tendons. This is because the NMR signals from solids are extremely short-lived (of the order of 10s of microseconds), so are very difficult to detect. We have developed solid imaging strategies based on continuous-wave detection. Instead of recording the transient response of a sample's nuclear spins, we continuously excite (at low power) and continuously monitor the signal. To date, the main area of application of our method has been the non-destructive testing of samples of building cement. Positron emission tomography (PET) (Head of Group: A Welch) Lead researchers: A Welch, L Schweiger and T Smith The main research focus of this group is the development of application specific positron emission tomography (PET) tracers for translational medicine. This development includes: selection and synthesis of imaging biomarkers; study design; and data analysis including development of pharmacokinetic models. The PET facility contains a state-of-the-art GE Discovery STE clinical PET/CT

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imager, cyclotron, radiochemistry laboratory and all of the chemistry, data analysis and technical expertise required for developing radio-labelled biomarkers. There is also a new preclinical GE eXplore Vista PET/CT scanner located in a dedicated preclinical research facility on the same site. Ophthalmic imaging group (Head of Group: Professor P Sharp) Lead researchers: P Sharp, A Manivannan, A Fleming, K Goatman, J Olson (NHS Grampian), and S Philip (NHS Grampian) Ophthalmic Imaging Instrumentation Development of instrumentation for functional imaging of the retina. Current interests are in instrumentation for in vivo fluorescent lifetime imaging of retinal tissue. Automated retinal disease identification. The development of algorithms to identify pathological changes in retinal images. Recent research has concentrated on the analysis of fundus camera images acquired in the Scottish screening programme for diabetic retinopathy. We are exploring the role of automated computer analysis in replacing the manual examination of images by screeners. Laser optics (Head of Group: Professor J Watson) Lead researchers: Professor J Watson, M A Player, D Hendry, T Thevar, H Sun, and M Zhao This work focuses on applications of lasers and optics, and is often directed towards the marine and sub-sea environment. The Group is housed in a suite of laboratories with a comprehensive and extensive range of laser and holographic equipment ranging from solid-state pulsed lasers such as ruby and Nd-YAG, through gas lasers like argon and krypton to a high-power CO2 laser. The principal research activities at present include underwater holography for the identification and analysis of marine plankton, holography of river and estuarine sediments, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for sub-sea materials identification, sub-sea laser welding, digital (electronic) holography, and pulsed colour holography. Laser optics: photonic engineeringError! Bookmark not defined. Research is aimed to develop a digital sub-sea holographic camera (eHoloCam). eHoloCam was developed and built and has been deployed in the North Sea on four occasions. Biomedical optics Current work aims to develop a holographic video microscope for the study of blood cells.

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Institution: The University of Dundee Department: Department of Electronic Engineering and Physics Head of Department: Professor Mervyn Rose URL: www.dundee.ac.uk/elecengphysics Microelectronics and advanced materials Microelectronics Over a number of years we have developed procedures for making microstructures in a variety of metals, insulators and semiconductors, which are now used by laser research groups, both in the UK and overseas. These structures may be either planar or three-dimensional, with individual feature sizes down to 1 micrometre. In many cases they are distinguished from the type of structures found in integrated circuits by having a much greater depth and novel three-dimensional features.

We have applied this microfabrication expertise also to structures and actuators in collaborative projects with other members of the Group. We have recently designed and fabricated miniature strain gauges which can measure and map the stresses which exist in a variety of thin metal layers in contact with silica.

In addition, we are at present developing the use of microfabrication techniques for the study of bacterial growth on structured surfaces and for work on tissue engineering. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with research workers at the nearby Scottish Crop Research Institute and in the School of Dentistry.

We are also involved in researching and fabricating sensors for medical applications, working with the Department of surgery and Department of Orthopaedics. Lead researcher: Professor J A Cairns Amorphous semiconductors Amorphous silicon, laser crystallisation and field emission devices. Deposition of amorphous materials. Optical and electrical properties of amorphous semiconductors. Polycrystalline silicon thin film field effect transistors. Organic semiconductors. Lead researchers: Professor M J Rose, C Main, D J Keeble, R A G Gibson, D I Jones, and D M Goldie Medical and biophysics Drug delivery and imaging. Real time x-ray detection. Lead researchers: Professor M J Rose and P Campbell Analytical electron microscopy Microstructure of photovoltaic materials. Improved techniques for materials analysis. Surface morphology, microstructure and electronic properties of YBa2Cu3O7-x and high Tc superconducting thin films. Diamond and hard carbon films. Preparation and studies of amorphous carbon nitride films. Amorphous chalcogenide / metal bilayers: x-ray masks. Lead researchers: Professor S Fitzgerald and T Tooke, Y Fan, B Storey, and M Rose

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The JEOL Electron Microscopy and Surface Analysis Centre Analysing and developing nanotube and molecular-based electronic systems for both electronic and microelectromechanical (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) based systems. Single molecule electronic structures. We are expanding nanotube research beyond electronic applications to encompass interactions with biological, environmental, and civil engineering systems. Lead researcher: G Harris Optoelectronics and photonics Dundee diagnostics group - free-electron lasers and accelerator research Ultrafast diagnostics and related physics. Lead researcher: A Gillespie Ultra-fast lasers and optics Ultrafast laser sources based on novel nanostructures (quantum dots). Development of highly efficient visible-light laser sources that are potentially portable, and the generation of femtosecond pulses with applications in biology and photomedicine. Novel high-power CW, short, ultrashort-pulse and high-frequency semiconductor lasers. Compact diode pump ultraviolet / visible/ infrared / mid-infrared and THz lasers, and nanostructures (quantum dot and carbon nanotube structures). Nonlinear and integrated optics, optoelectronics and application of compact ultraviolet / visible / infrared / mid-infrared and THz lasers in spectroscopy. Lead researcher: E Rafailov Biophotonics Optical manipulation of particles and atoms making use of optical dipole forces (optical tweezers) with particular interest in the application of tailored light potentials to colloidal, atomic and biological systems. Recent work has concentrated on the applications of novel light modes, such as Bessel beams, for a range of applications including microfluidics. Surgical technology, light scattering spectroscopy, colloidal dynamics and laser microsurgery. Micro total analysis systems (microTAS); optical microfluidic sorting; light scattering spectroscopy for the non-invasive early diagnosis of cervical neoplasia; light induced dielectrophoresis; and ferromagnetic implantation in human tissues. Lead researchers: D McGloin and M McDonald

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Institution: The University of Edinburgh Department: School of Physics Head of Department: Professor R Kenway URL: www.ph.ed.ac.uk Astronomy and astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor J S Dunlop) Lead researchers: Professor J S Dunlop, Professor A Lawrence, Professor A F Heavens, Professor J A Peacock, P Best, M R Cioni, A Ferguson, B Mann, A Meiksin, K Rice, and A N Taylor Cosmology Large-scale structure in the Universe, from optical, IRAS, radio and x-ray selected samples of galaxies and quasars, and from microwave background data; optimised analysis methods for redshift surveys and CMB data; theoretical, numerical and observational studies of large-scale structure, the intergalactic medium and galaxy formation; gravitational lensing and its application in large- scale structure studies; and processes occurring in the early Universe. Active galactic nuclei (AGN) and related objects Optical and x-ray AGN variability; multi-wavelength spectral energy distributions of AGN; observational studies of obscured AGN and their role in the x-ray and far-infrared backgrounds; studies of AGN host galaxies and their environment; ultraluminous IRAS galaxies; high-redshift sub-mm sources; and theoretical and observational studies of relativistic jets and particle acceleration. Nearby galaxies Structure, content and evolution of galaxies in the local universe (including the Milky Way), with emphasis on their faint components (stellar halos, thick disks and outer disks); galaxy formation as probed by the local fossil record; resolved and unresolved stellar populations; large-scale star formation and the interstellar medium in nearby galaxies; and chemical-abundances and chemical evolution. Star formation Observational and theoretical studies of the interstellar medium, especially shocks and protostellar outflows, and their role in star formation; chemistry of the interstellar medium; star formation in external galaxies; sub-mm studies of Class 0 protostars and starless cores; discs around pre-main-sequence stars; disc and planet formation in protostars; and theoretical study of star formation in the early Universe. Stellar astronomy Surveys for low-mass stars and brown dwarfs, and follow-up study of brown dwarf candidates; the stellar luminosity function; parallax and proper motion studies including study of local kinematics from long plate series; white dwarf samples from colour and proper motion; the white dwarf luminosity function and the age of the disc; halo white dwarfs and dark matter; infrared properties of variable stars as standard candles; symbiotic stars; Wolf-Rayet and other mass-losing stars; and star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds. Computational astrophysics Areas of interest include cosmological structure formation; star and planet formation; the merger of neutron stars and black holes as precursors to gamma-ray bursts (GRBs); and the gravitational dynamics of globular star clusters.

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Condensed matter (Head of Group: Professor G Ackland ) High-pressure physics and the centre for science at extreme conditions Lead researchers: Professor R Nelmes, M McMahon, J Loveday, and P Monthoux Ices (H2O, NH3, CH4 etc) These are model systems in which to study hydrogen bonding as a function of bond strength and geometry, including effects such as molecular dissociation and the creation of centred, symmetric H-bonds. We also wish to understand the transition between amorphous forms of H2O ice, and to investigate the structural changes in very dense water at high P-T. Diatomic molecules and hydrocarbons These are model systems for understanding interactions in molecular solids. Studies of the interplay between van der Waals forces and stearic repulsions as the density increases are relevant to the goal of describing weak forces and provide information needed for classical molecular dynamics modelling. Detailed studies of the exotic high-pressure behaviour of the ultimate simple diatomic system, H2, which is driven by quantum effects are a major goal of our programme. Mixed molecular systems In these, pressure can stabilise a wealth of new compounds ranging from clathrate hydrates to new classes based on rare gases and simple molecules. These systems provide access to heterogeneous interactions not found in their parent materials, mixed H-bonding and mixed-repulsive interactions, and allow molecules to be probed in a range of different environments. The behaviour of systems such as ices, methane clathrate and ammonia hydrates are crucial for the modelling of planets such as Uranus and Neptune. Novel materials and structures Pressure can produce novel materials and structures with entirely new properties. We wish to study such materials with the aim of developing new superhard materials. In addition to the diffraction work, we also aim to develop inelastic scattering studies of dynamics under pressure. X-rays We are using x-ray techniques to pursue many of the most exciting areas of high-pressure physics. These areas include a wealth of complex structures in elements and simple compounds; the challenge of making direct determinations of electron density; and entirely new possibilities for studies of dynamics, critical scattering, electronic structure and magnetic scattering. Laser heating now makes it possible to study very high temperature melt structures and to extend detailed structural knowledge to conditions approaching those of the centre of the Earth. Soft condensed matter and biological physics experiment Lead researchers: Professor W Poon, Professor P Pusey, and S Egelhaaf Free-energy landscapes, kinetics and arrest Here we seek to understand soft systems evolving slowing towards their equilibrium (lowest free energy) states, including those that get ‘stuck’ in long-lived metastable

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intermediates, such as ‘gels’ and glasses. Discoveries here have wide ramifications for other areas listed below, as well as for the understanding of glasses in general. Rheophysics To understand how external stress can lead to soft systems jamming up or showing chaotic behaviour. New soft materials To develop and understand the physics behind new soft solids based on dispersing colloids in complex liquids, such as liquid crystals, or a phase-separating mixture of two simples liquids (such as oil and water). In the case of liquid crystals with colloids, the new materials are electro-optically switchable, and may be used in new generations of displays. Biophysical complex fluids The focus here is various structures self-assembled from lipids (biological surfactants). In one project, we look at vesicles (essentially a cell with just its membrane) made up of two lipids that don't want to be homogeneously mixed. In another project, we study how compact aggregates (micelles) transform into vesicles when external conditions are suddenly changed. Statistical mechanics and computational materials physics Lead researchers: Professor M Cates, Professor G Ackland, Professor A Bruce, M Evans, and S Bates Flow of colloids and fluid mixtures Colloids in suspension can exhibit new phenomena such as jamming and arrest, either spontaneously or driven by stress. These are being studied by adapting glass transition theories from statistical mechanics. We also have simulation work on the topic, mainly using a powerful algorithm called Lattice Boltzmann. In future we will address the dynamics of colloidal particles suspended in fluid mixtures. These are capable of new forms of arrest, and should form viscoelastic solids at very low volume fraction. Defects and nanostructure in materials Modern materials design depends on knowing how higher level structure (grain boundaries, twinning, dislocations) emerges from atomic interactions. This requires both first principles quantum mechanics and molecular dynamics to span the length scales. Recent work has involved shape-memory metals which have one structure at high temperature (or magnetic field) and another at low temperature or magnetic field. Applications include motorless flapping wings for micro-aircraft and one-off unfolding of sails for space probes. Molecular physics Computer simulation can provide molecular-level insight into the complex dynamics of even simple systems. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of aqueous amphiphiles (molecules with both water-loving and water-hating parts) reveal that apparently miscible solutions can show micro-immiscibility at the molecular scale, giving rise to anomalous thermodynamics and relaxation properties. Non-equilibrium phase transitions

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Analysis of simple models can reveal important generic principles. For example, within a wide class of models for traffic flow, the vehicles will organise in such a way as to minimise the mean velocity, although each vehicle is driven to maximise its own. Such insights feed into our more phenomenological work on colloidal jamming, etc. One keystone model is called directed percolation. Think of water attempting to penetrate a porous rock under gravity. Networks and agents in physics and ecology This work addresses the evolution of interacting objects under nonequilibrium conditions. The objects are often not merely passive but dynamic ‘agents’. A new science of networks has developed, based on the realisation that the web of interaction between agents determines their response to, and effect on, their environment. Evolution can give rise to stable emergent phenomena such as peloton formation in cycle races, or ecosystems adapted to cope with global forcing. In a simple model called 'daisyworld', black and white daisies compete for space on the Earth's surface. Quantum ordering Lead researchers: Professor A Huxley, P Monthoux, and R Perry Understanding how strongly-correlated electron physics emerges close to different quantum critical points leading to the formation of new states of matter is one of the biggest challenges facing condensed matter research both theoretically and experimentally The aims of our research program include the following: 1) Identifying the microscopic interactions responsible for new state formation close to different quantum critical points. This requires developing and performing experiments to accurately measure macroscopic properties at low temperatures as materials are tuned towards quantum critical points, and measuring microscopic properties with neutron and x-ray scattering. Establishing the relationship between microscopic and macroscopic quantities is key to identifying the most important interactions and distinguishing between different theories of how new states are formed. 2) To discover other materials that display new states of matter, can new forms of superconductivity be induced at very high magnetic fields or will completely different states form? 3) Finding novel properties of the new states that might provide the basis for future applications. Molecular and optical science (Head of Group: Professor J Crain) Spectroscopy Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy on protein solutions. Fluorescence lifetime probing of microwave heating effects. Instrumentation for advanced optical spectroscopies under extreme conditions. Macromolecular interactions in crowded environments. New fluorescent labels for proteins on surfaces. Photophysics of 2-aminopurine in DNA. Photophysics of new luminescent materials. Micromanipulation Novel optical technologies and instrumentation. Operation of molecular motors. Optical tweezers and applications. Imaging Calcium imaging in filamentous fungi using recombinant chameleon fluorescence

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resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology. Colloid-liquid crystal composites. Development of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) technology and FRET probes for FLIM-FRET studies. Enzymatic reactions on solid surfaces. Epi-optic studies of molecules at surfaces and interfaces. FLIM - imaging of YOYO-DNA constructs. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) on lysozyme diffusion in lipidic cubic phases. Imaging cells in 3D gels under shear. Imaging colloidal suspensions. Colloidal gels under flow. Instrumentation for advanced optical spectroscopies under extreme conditions. Live-cell imaging and analysis. Macromolecular interactions in crowded environments. Mixed lipid bilayers. New fluorescent labels for proteins on surfaces. Novel optical technologies and instrumentation. Operation of molecular motors. RNA transport in drosophila. Single molecule imaging and studies. Miscellaneous Genomic nanoprocessors. Simulation of model amphiphiles in solution. Solute-solvent interactions under extreme conditions.

Acoustics and fluid dynamics (Head of Group: Professor M Campbell) Lead researchers: Professor M Campbell, Professor D McComb, Professor C Greated, S Bilbao, J Kemp, and F Barnes Vibrating lips The artificial mouth is capable of playing any brass instrument a human can, but for our experiments a simple straight extendable tube is used. This allows us to shine a laser through the lips and into a photo-diode behind them. Using this setup we can observe the amplitude of the opening of the lips in real time. Microphones are placed inside the "mouth cavity" and the mouthpiece cup to provide information on the pressure functions. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) This is a non-intrusive optical technique for the simultaneous measurement of flow velocity fields. The ability to measure velocities at many points in a fluid flow instantaneously allows the detection of large and small scale spatial structures and is especially useful for the study of unsteady flows like acoustic fields and arterial blood flows. Tonehole undercutting Undercutting has been practised by makers of woodwind instruments for centuries to shape the junction between a tonehole and the bore of an instrument to alter significantly the characteristics of a note played using that hole. Undercutting may be used to increase loudness, improve timbre and playability, make tuning adjustments and change the interval between notes in different playing registers. We use PIV on a simplified clarinet model to visualise the oscillating airflow around a tonehole over the timescale of a millisecond. The formation of jets and vortices has been observed at realistic playing levels and these phenomena seem to provide the key to understanding undercutting. Investigation into their effects on the acoustic field around the tonehole is underway. Pipe-organ mechanical actions Researching into the extent to which organists can influence the transients of the pipe speech in organs using mechanical actions by the way in which they move the key.

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Lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM) This is a pseudo-statistical technique for simulating fluids. It mimics the Navier-Stokes equation up to second order accuracy and provides good results for many fluid dynamical situations. Research using LBM has simulated the air flow travelling from the mouth of the player into a brass instrument mouthpiece. A number of static models of the lips where used for these simulations, with the different lip shapes based on measurements taken from real players’ lips at different stages of the oscillation cycle. Turbulence theory Research areas: local energy transfer theory, renormalisation group methods, direct numerical simulation, non-Newtonian effects, nonlinear deposition, and large eddy simulation. Nuclear physics (Head of Group: Professor P Woods) Nuclear astrophysics The light emitted by the stars is a direct result of the nuclear reactions that naturally occur when massive clouds of gas collapse and heat, whether it be the constant shine of our Sun, or the newly observed flares of gamma-ray bursters. The abundances of the elements here on Earth are also the result of nuclear reactions that have occurred in previous generations of stars. The understanding of nucleosynthesis processes and of the energy generation in astrophysical objects is the subject of nuclear astrophysics. Research areas: explosive hydrogen burning, quiescent stellar burning, and tests of the statistical model for p-process nuclei calculations. Lead researchers: Professor P Woods, M Aliotta, and A Murphy Exotic nuclei Proton decaying nuclear states. Lead researcher: Professor P Woods Photonuclear reactions The group uses high-energy photons to investigate sub-nuclear degrees of freedom (pion exchange, isobar excitation, quark-quark interactions etc) in nuclei. Lead researchers: Professor D Branford and D Watts Environmental radiation monitoring While the topics described so far are driven by fundamental nuclear physics research, the techniques developed for nuclear physics can be applied in other fields. Acid rain is known to arise as a consequence of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere. However, details of the transportation and deposition mechanisms, particularly in mountainous regions, are poorly understood. To investigate these phenomena a highly sensitive gamma-ray detection system has been developed to measure small concentrations of radioisotopes in the environment. Lead researchers: Professor D Branford Supernova neutrinos and dark matter Research areas: supernova neutrino detection (Observatory for Multiflavor NeutrInos from Supernovae OMNIS), cold dark matter, weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), the UK Dark Matter Collaboration (UKDMC), and DRIFT (Directional Recoil Identification From Tracks). Lead researchers: Professor P Woods and A Murphy

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Silicon strip detectors A very strong equipment development programme underpins our physics programme. The group has been particularly involved in the development of silicon strip detectors. They are silicon junction diode devices used for high-resolution position and energy measurements on charged particles. The group has an active collaboration with the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in which the micro-electronics required to instrument these sophisticated detectors is designed and developed. Present developments involve the use of very large scale integrated (VLSI) systems to incorporate micro-electronics onto the detector itself. In addition, the group has close ties with industrial companies responsible for the manufacture of silicon strip detectors. Lead researchers: Professor P Woods and Professor D Branford Particle physics - experiment (Head of Group: Professor S Playfer) BaBar This is an experiment at the PEP-II asymmetric B factory at SLAC, studying CP violation and rare decays of B mesons. We have contributed significantly to the construction and calibration of the CsI electromagnetic calorimeter (EMC), and to the development of reconstruction software. We maintain the light pulser system for calibration of the EMC. We are actively involved in the following analysis: radiative penguins, rare hadronic decays, and the measurement of Vub. Lead researchers: S Playfer, F Muheim, A Khan, and A Anjomshoaa LHCb A large hadron collider beauty experiment for precision measurements of CP violation and rare decays. The present contributions are: proponent of the MaPMT option for the RICH photodetector readout: (lab tests of the MaPMT R7600-03-M64 and associated ‘bleeder board’, test-beam measurements with MaPMT and analysis, and setup of an independent photodetector test facility at Edinburgh); and a share on coordination of RICH 2 project. Lead researchers: S Playfer, F Muheim, P Clark, and P Clarke NA48 NA48 is an international collaboration of approximately 150 people from 17 institutes in 7 European counties. The UK groups involved are Cambridge and Edinburgh. The UK groups are responsible for the muon veto counters, parts of the data acquisition system and the software. We are also active in analysis. Lead researchers: A Walker ScotGRID / GridPP Edinburgh is one of the main participating institutes in the GridPP Collaboration. GridPP aims to coordinate the UK involvement in the Large Computing Grid (LCG). Edinburgh is a Tier-2 site, and along with Glasgow and Durham (Universities) form ScotGRID - one of four regional Tier-2 centres in GridPP. Particle physics – theory (Head of Group: Professor R Kenway) Lead researchers: Professor R Ball, Professor T Kennedy, Professor R Kenway, B Pendleton, A Berera, T Binoth, P Boyle, L Del Debbio, R Horsley, and T Plehn The Group aims to increase our understanding of the Standard Model, to confront it

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with experiment and to seek physics beyond it. The main focus is on perturbative and non-perturbative calculations in quantum field theory.

The group is working in several areas of direct relevance to physics at the LHC: perturbative quantum chromodynamics (QCD); structure function determination; resummation; heavy quark and Higgs production; supersymmetry; extra dimensions; and other ideas for physics beyond the Standard Model. As host to QCD on-a-chip (QCDOC), the group also performs analytical and numerical studies of lattice QCD - spectrum, matrix element, form factor and structure function calculations for light and heavy quark systems using improved actions.

There is a continuing interest in B physics, CP violation, and the development of the International Linear Collider (ILC). Other interests include inflationary models of the early Universe, the phase structure and dynamics of electroweak models, chiral fermions, and non-perturbative physics beyond the Standard Model.

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Institution: The University of Glasgow Department: Department of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: Professor A Long URL: www.physics.gla.ac.uk Institute of Gravitational Research (Head of Group: Professor J Hough) Lead researchers: Professor J Hough, Professor K Strain, Professor N Robertson, S Rowan, H Ward, G Woan, and G Cagnoli GEO 600 Together with Cardiff and the Albert Einstein Institute (Hannover and Golm), we are playing a leading part in the UK/German 600m gravitational-wave detector. Space-based gravitational-wave detector LISA We are researching towards the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), a space borne gravitational wave detector to be flown as a joint ESA/NASA mission in the first half of the next decade. Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) We are now exporting its GEO technology for an upgrade to the US LIGO detector system. LIGO consists of three interferometers in the US, the largest being 4km in length. Astronomy and astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor J C Brown) Solar physics High energy processes in flares. Atmospheric structure and dynamics. Simulations of magnetised plasma processes. Solar wind and interplanetary scintillation. Observational solar polarimetry. Lead researchers: Professor J C Brown, D A Diver, L Fletcher, A L MacKinnon, G Woan, R K Barrett, and E Vogt Plasma theory Laboratory plasmas, pulsar plasmas, and magnetic liquids. Lead researchers: Professor J C Brown, D A Diver, A MacKinnon, and R K Barrett Stellar astrophysics Structure of stellar mass loss. Atmospheres and the interstellar medium. Discrete absorption components in hot star spectra. Be star disks. Stellar and galactic jet outflows. Wolf-Rayet star variability. Eta Carinae outbursts and luminous blue variables. Structures in the interstellar medium. Lead researchers: Professor J C Brown, D Clarke, M A Hendry, L Oskinova Cosmology Estimating the Hubble Parameter. Testing models of the peculiar velocity field. Optimal representation of the galaxy density field. Testing models of the galaxy luminosity function. Improving the calibration of the Cepheid distance scale. Testing non-standard cosmological models. Improving the Tully Fisher relation. Lead researchers: M A Hendry and K D'Mellow Microlensing Modelling the broad-band photometric signatures of extended sources. Microlensing as a probe of stellar atmosphere models. Microlensing as a probe of photospheric

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inhomogeneities. Spectroscopic signatures of extended source events. Polarimetric signatures of extended source events. Optimal non-parametric methods for combining photometric, polarimetric and spectroscopic microlensing data. Lead researchers: Professor J C Brown, M A Hendry, and N Gray Radio astronomy Interplanetary scintillation. Radio exoplanet detection. Compact object astronomy. Low-frequency array technology. Lead researcher: G Woan Dynamical astronomy Dynamics of few-body systems. Building self-consistent galaxy models. Reconstructing the large-scale density and peculiar velocity field. Lead researchers: Professor A E Roy, M A Hendry, and K D'Mellow

Optics (Head of Group: Professor M J Padgett) Lead researchers: Professor M J Padgett, J Courtial, and S Franke-Arnold Light's momentum Light carries both linear and angular momentum. Both can exert a physical force upon microscopic objects, setting them into motion. Our main interest is light's angular momentum, specifically its generation, detection and potential applications. Highlights of our work include the detection of a new form of doppler shift and the use of light's angular momentum in a communication system. Optical tweezers A strongly focused laser beam can be used to hold and move microscopic objects such as biological cells. Machines that use this technique are called optical tweezers. Our work is helping to make optical tweezers more versatile, for example by using a laser beam with angular momentum, which allows objects to be rotated, and by using computer-controlled holograms to control the laser beam. Light and Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) shaping The 3-dimensional intensity structure of laser beams is determined by the geometry of the optical cavity at the heart of the laser. Outside the laser it can be changed by holograms. We examine how some optical cavities can shape light into fractals, for example snowflakes, and we use computers to design holograms for the 3-dimensional shaping of light and Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) - matter waves in many ways analogous to laser light. Biomedical optics Certain chemicals can absorb light of one wavelength and emit it again at another wavelength. We use this fluorescence to identify chemicals that indicate specific diseases such as cancer. Working with clinicians, we have developed instruments that aid the diagnosis and treatment of cancers on the skin or in the gastrointestinal tract. Our latest instrument is now commercially available. Optical gas detection All gases absorb light. Precisely measuring this absorption at different wavelengths allows identification of both the type and concentration of the absorbing gas. We have developed and commercialised new instruments for gas-safety monitoring and highly sensitive gas detection, and applied our expertise to oil prospecting, breath monitoring (humans and horses), gas-leak detection and volcano monitoring.

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Particle physics experiment (Head of Group: Professor D H Saxon) Lead researchers: Professor A T Doyle, Professor D H Saxon, Professor K M Smith, Professor I O Skillicorn, P J Bussey, C M Buttar, V O'Shea, C Parkes, R St Denis, and P Soler ZEUS In ZEUS we investigate the deep inelastic scattering process and in Collider Detector at Fermilab we study proton-antiproton collisions. DESY At DESY, electrons collide with protons in HERA to provide the world's most powerful electron microscope. The Tevatron at Fermilab is the most powerful particle accelerator in the world and is able to probe the smallest distance scales. Large Hadron Collider (LHC) We are preparing for two of the LHC experiments (ATLAS and LHCb); the biggest experiments ever undertaken. They have been underway since 1990 and will be complete in 2007 when the experiment begins. Detector development The detection technologies we use have many other uses including medical imaging and security. New technologies for x-ray imaging and neutronography as well as radiation tolerant systems are under development. Grid development E-science activities have been driven by the need to process the enormous volumes of data that will be generated by the experiments at the LHC. Particle physics theory Lead researchers: Professor C Davies, Professor G Moorhouse, J Campbell, D Miller, A Davies, and C Froggatt Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and the physics of quarks Protons and neutrons and therefore the nuclei of all the atoms around us are made of quarks and yet quarks can never be directly detected. To determine their properties and understand how they behave we are tackling the theory of the strong force, QCD, on the world's fastest supercomputers. The method involves splitting space-time up into a lattice and is called lattice QCD. A theory of everything Our current theory of particle physics is incomplete and so we are searching for a deeper theory that will explain the origin of strong, weak and electromagnetic forces, the masses of quarks and leptons, and the behaviour of the elusive Higgs particle. Such a theory would be important in describing the development of the Universe soon after the Big Bang. Solid-state physics (Head of Group: Professor A Craven) Lead researchers: Professor A Craven, Professor J Chapman, Professor A Long, I MacLaren, S McVitie, and M McKenzie Nanocharacterisation

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Many recent advances in materials and devices depend on structures at the nanoscale that is only a few atoms across. To understand their properties we need to examine the structure and chemistry of materials on this scale. Nanomagnetic materials and devices Very small magnetic elements and magnetic multilayer films display exciting properties that are not found in bulk material or simple films. Quantum transport in semiconductors In semiconducting materials and devices with dimensions less than 100nm, electron quantisation phenomena begin to dominate. Microwave thermography (Head of Group: D V Land) Lead researchers: D V Land and A Watt Microwave and very high frequency techniques are being developed for a range of applications in industry, medical research and clinical medicine. These techniques utilise the relative transparency of biological and organic materials to radiation in this region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the inherently safe, non-invasive and non-destructive nature of the measurement methods. Research into the development of: Microwave radiometry for non-invasive, non-destructive industrial thermometry for process control and quality assurance. Microwave radiometry instrumentation design and precision calibration techniques. Microwave radiometry (microwave thermography) for the measurement of body tissue temperature patterns and the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of a range of diseases. Computational high-frequency electromagnetic modelling of product to coupling-cavity, and tissue to antenna systems. Combined microwave and thermal computational models of body tissue regions for interpretation of microwave temperature patterns to enhance disease detection capability and treatment monitoring. Development and application of ultra-high frequency / microwave techniques for precision electromagnetic field measurements and dielectric measurements. The measurement of microwave dielectric properties of body tissues, tissue simulating and similar materials. Measurement of thermal properties of organic and biological materials. Assessments of microwave temperature measurement for food processing. Microwave thermometry for food processing control. Assessments of the clinical use of microwave radiometry.

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Nuclear physics (Head of Group: Professor G Rosner) Lead researchers: Professor G Rosner, D Ireland, R Kaiser, J Kellie, D MacGregor, and B Seitz Hadron physics In order to construct a full theory of nuclei, one needs to understand the properties of their constituents. Nucleons and their resonances have several properties, such as electromagnetic form-factors and spin structure, which need to be understood at a basic level. Laboratories: Jlab, MAMI, and DESY Gluonic excitations The phenomenon of confinement is the most novel and spectacular prediction of QCD, unlike anything seen before. It is also the basic feature of QCD that drives all of nuclear physics, from the mass of the proton and other nuclear building blocks to the nucleon-nucleon interaction. The proposed GlueX experiment at Jlab will map the spectrum of gluonic excitations using linearly polarised photons, with the ultimate goal of understanding the confinement of quarks and gluons. Laboratories: Jlab and FAIR Nucleon-nucleon correlations Experiments are carried out to study the short-range interaction of nucleons in nuclei. This research bridges the gap between the fundamental QCD theory of strong interactions and the more traditional view of nuclei where nucleons and mesons are the basic constituents. Laboratories: Jlab and MAMI Medical physics Many cancer therapies involve the use of particle beams and sophisticated detectors. Measurements of the dose likely to be received by patients can be accurately modelled if data are available from nuclear reaction experiments. Laboratory: MAXLAB

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Institution: Heriot-Watt University Department: Department of Mathematics Head of Department: Professor Dugald Duncan URL: http://www.ma.hw.ac.uk/maths/maths.html

Lead researchers: L Boulton, Professor J C Eilbeck, Professor D A Johnston, A Konechny, Professor O Penrose, B J Schroers, R A Weston, Professor R J Szabo

Mathematical Physics Main areas of research are string theory, classical and quantum integrable systems, topological quantum field theories, low-dimensional quantum gravity, statistical mechanics, random surfaces, conformal field theory, computational physics, spin glasses, solitons, monopoles and instantons. Interests span a wide range of topics at the interface between modern mathematics and physics including non-commutative geometry, quantum groups and K-theory. The group is part of the Edinburgh Mathematical Physics Group within the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences.

Related Groups

Algebra and Topology Analysis Numerical Analysis and Scientific Computation

Institution: Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Department: Physics – School of Engineering and Physical Sciences Head of Department: Professor D Hand URL: www.phy.hw.ac.uk Applied optics and photonics and waves and fields research A large research team exploiting optics (fibre optics, instrumentation, sensing, lasers, process control, high-speed imaging and industrial applications of optics) for the manipulation and measurement of the world around us. Lead researchers: Professor J D C Jones, Professor D P Hand, Professor A H Greenaway, J S Barton, and W N MacPherson Diffractive optics We have developed a suite of computer modelling and fabrication facilities to allow design and manufacture of complex optical elements. Lead researcher: M R Taghizadeh

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Nonlinear optical, dynamics and complexity We live in a nonlinear Universe and this group studies the effects of spatio-temporal dynamics on optical systems as diverse as image processing and atomic or molecular optics. Lead researchers: Professor R G Harrison and W Lu Optical interconnects Our research examines optics in computing, including next generation architectures and encryption schemes. This research includes diffractive optics, optical backplanes, photon-counting technologies, as well as relevant semiconductor optoelectronic device research. Lead researchers: Professor A C Walker, M R Taghizadeh, G S Buller, and J F Snowdon Materials and plasma processing Low pressure plasmas are of great technological importance for synthesising materials or treating surfaces. Our current research is studying diamond coatings on plasma-facing components for tokamak fusion reactors, and nanocrystalline silicon for flexible solar cells on textiles (SMART award to a spin-out company, Power Textiles Limited): a common aspect is our microwave plasma technique. Lead researchers: Professor J I B Wilson and Professor P John Nano-optics The nano-optics group pursues research into nanostructured semiconductors and the development of new nano-optical techniques to probe and manipulate the light-matter coupling on a nanometer scale. A major focus is the spectroscopy of individual quantum dots with the development of various schemes to control the quantum states, involving both charge and spin. Lead researcher: Professor R J Warburton Single-Photon counting Photon counting technologies researches time-correlated photon-counting technology and applications. The Group is actively pursuing research in photon-counting detectors, especially at wavelengths greater than 1000nm. The photon-counting applications studied include quantum key distribution, low-light level time-of-flight imaging and ranging, time-resolved photoluminescence, and quantum dot single-photon emitters. Lead researcher: Professor G Buller Quantum optics and cold atoms We are mainly working on the properties of ultra-cold quantum gases such as Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and degenerate Fermi gases, and how these systems react to light. This involves studying a broad spectrum of problems in theoretical physics. Research includes: degenerate quantum gases; quantum optics; effective gauge fields in condensed matter systems; slow light; atom optics; quantum information processing; qubits in curved space time; and quantum magnetism. Lead researcher: P Öhberg

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Semiconductor physics theory and fabrication Much of the technological revolution of the last 50 years has been underpinned by semiconductor physics. Our research in this area spans the nanoscale world of quantum dots to device modelling. Lead researchers: Professor I Galbraith, Professor C R Pigeon, K A Prior, and R J Warburton Superconducting single-photon detectors This research programme is focused on developing and exploiting a new class of infrared single-photon detectors, based on superconducting nanowires. This is a key enabling technology for a host of applications at the frontiers of science, from quantum information processing to new types of medical imaging. Lead researcher: R H Hadfield Lasers High-power solid-state lasers have many applications in science and engineering. We have pioneered new device architectures with diode laser excitation of planar waveguides for high-brightness lasers. Related research is on custom micro-optics for diode lasers and the fabrication of waveguides in ceramic optical materials. Lead researchers: Professor D R Hall and Professor H J Baker Theoretical physics Theoretical work relating to many of the above fields is carried out. In particular, in semiconductor physics, nonlinear dynamics, optical architectures, and vacuum quantum electrodynamics (QED). Lead researchers: Professor I Galbraith, W Lu, J F Snowdon, P Öhberg, and E Abraham Ultra-fast optics Femtosecond laser sources can be used to probe fundamental processes in optical materials as well as to process materials in unique ways for a myriad of exciting applications. Lead researcher: Professor D T Reid

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Institution: University of the West of Scotland Department: School of Engineering and Science – Physics Head of Department: J Steven-Setchell URL: www.paisley.ac.uk/es/physics/index.asp Experimental nuclear physics (Head of Group: Professor R Chapman) The main areas of interest are: The experimental study of nuclei far from the valley of stability; the study of very proton rich nuclei to the ‘north-west’ of 208Pb; the study of neutron-rich nuclei with mass number around 160; gamma-ray spectroscopy using large arrays of Ge-detectors; and arrays of charged particle detectors. Lead researchers: Professor R Chapman, K Spohr, J F Smith, and X Liang Thin film research centre / electronic and photonic materials (Head of Group: Professor F Placido) Expertise includes: optical filter design and production; laser and x-ray mirrors DWDM filters; anisotropic films; magnetic films; active and passive thin film devices; protective coatings; and software design and programming. Deposition techniques available include: RF and DC magnetron sputtering; reactive sputtering of oxides and nitrides; electron-beam deposition; microwave-assisted and plasma assisted techniques; and plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). Characterisation techniques available include: scanning electron microscopy (SEM); atomic force microscopy (AFM); Nomarski optical microscopy; energy-dispersive x-ray analysis; Auger spectroscopy; UV-Vis-IR spectrophotometers; spectroscopic ellipsometry; and nano-indenter hardness tester and scratch tester. Lead researchers: Professor F Placido and Professor A Ogwu Glass research and development (Head of Group: D Hollis) We research into the structure and properties of various glasses and glass-ceramics which are of importance in a wide range of practical applications in optics and electronics. Lead researcher: D Hollis Microscale sensors (Heads of Group: Professor K Kirk and Professor S Cochran) We have expertise in device design and applications of ultrasonics, magnetics and optics. As well as generic skills in: mathematical modelling and finite element analysis; thin film and bulk materials processing; device packaging; instrumentation and device performance validation. Lead researchers: Professor K Kirk and Professor S Cochran

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Institution: University of St Andrews Department: School of Mathematics and Statistics Head of Department: Professor Alan Cairns URL: http://www-maths.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/pg/applied/plasma.shtml Plasma Physics (Head of Group: Professor Alan Cairns) Lead researchers: Professor A Cairns, I Vorgul Laser-plasma interactions Laser technology has advanced to a stage where power intensities of around 1020 Wcm-2 can be produced in a spot and focussed on a target. These large power intensities can produce a variety of nonlinear effects and can accelerate particles in the target to very high energies. Work in this group studies these effects and continues on from a previous project which had been established to develop a short-wavelength, free-electron laser driven by an electron bunch, itself accelerated by a laser. Space plasmas and generation of radiation Work is continuing on particle acceleration processes in space plasmas and on mechanisms for the production of auroral kilometric radiation (and other electromagnetic emissions) from stars and planets. One area of work examines using the mechanism proposed for production of auroral kilometric radiation in a laboratory device: initial results show radiation being produced in line with expectations. A theory of generating radio waves by electron beams in the auroral region has been developed and the project involves collaboration between researchers at Strathclyde and St Andrews Universities. Solar and Magnetospheric Theory Group Lead researchers: Professor A Hood, Professor E Priest, Professor B Roberts, I De Moortel, D Mackay, T Neukirch, D Parnell and A Wright A revolution in our understanding of the Sun is being driven by high-resolution observations from space and the ground, and by great advances in theoretical modelling. The Sun is of great interest in its own right, but it is also of central importance for understanding a wide range of phenomena throughout the cosmos and for understanding how it influences the rest of the solar system, especially the Earth. Solar Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is the study of the subtle, and often nonlinear, interaction between the Sun's magnetic field and its plasma interior and atmosphere, treated as a continuous medium. The group develops models for a diverse range of phenomena that occur on the Sun as well as investigating the behaviour of the Earth's magnetosphere. Dramatic features such as sunspots, solar flares, solar prominences and the existence of a very hot solar corona that extends from the Sun to well outside the Earth's orbit have challenged researchers to improve their understanding of phenomena occurring within and around the Sun.

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The researchers in the group are attempting to model such phenomena by using:

• sophisticated analytical techniques • computational experiments on local workstations or supercomputers • observations from SoHO, TRACE, Hinode satellites and ground-based

telescopes. Although the main emphasis in the group is on the Sun, it also occasionally apply the knowledge and techniques of solar MHD to astrophysical and magnetospheric problems. MHD = Magnetohydrodynamics SoHO = Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (satellite) TRACE = The Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (satellite) Hinode = A solar observatory (satellite)

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Institution: The University of Strathclyde Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor D Birch URL: http://phys.strath.ac.uk Optics (Head of Group: Professor S Barnett) Computation nonlinear and quantum optics The group applies theoretical and computational approaches to investigate problems associated with the fundamental nature of light-matter interactions as well as the capabilities of nonlinear optical devices based on or using laser light. Highlight topics include: regular structures (pattern formation systems); quantum cryptography and information theory; control of spatial and temporal disorder in optical devices; quantum imaging; cavity solitons; orbital angular momentum; short pulse generation; virtual design of optoelectronics systems; quantum theory of optical measurements; and Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) and atom lasers. Lead researchers: Professor W J Firth, Professor S M Barnett, Professor G-L Oppo, J Jeffers, F Papoff, E Andersson, and D Oi Photonics Atom optics - 87Rb Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC), storage ring for cold atoms and BECs, Bose-Einstein condensation of calcium. Vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers (VECSELs) - these are becoming more and more popular in the laser community. They have the ability to cover a vast range in wavelengths, currently around 660-2550 nm. This is limited at the moment only by the semiconductor materials available and designs of the wafer structures. We are currently experimenting with 980nm and 850nm emitting VECSELs with good progress in the future to develop a lower wavelength VECSEL around 780nm. Quantum cascade (QC) lasers – These are a novel form of semiconductor laser that produce tunable radiation in the 3-25µm spectral window. This wavelength range coincides with the rotational-vibrational absorption bands of many gas phase molecules, such as methane, nitrous oxide, ethylene, formaldehyde and acetylene. These molecules can give information about chemical breakdown pathways in the atmosphere or act as markers as to the quality of an atmosphere. We have recently developed a novel form of spectrometer, the intra-pulse spectrometer, based on a pulsed QC laser, which has been used to detect many key atmospheric gases. This spectrometer will be used in an aeroplane to make in situ measurements of gases in the upper atmosphere. Photonic crystal fibre (PCF) lasers - Research has demonstrated for the first time a highly polarised laser output by the introduction of a polarisation-maintaining hole structure into a double-clad Yb doped photonic crystal fibre. Lead researchers: Professor A Ferguson, Professor E Riis, N Langford, T Ackemann, and A Arnold Plasmas (Head of Group: Professor A Phelps) Atoms, beams and plasmas The Group has current activities in experimental and theoretical relativistic electron beam physics, electron cyclotron masers, cyclotron autoresonance masers (CARMs), free electron lasers, super-radiant sources, novel electron sources, optical

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sensing of electromagnetic fields, pseudospark physics and plasma applications. Non-neutral relativistic plasma physics is a growth area, with applications in heating fusion plasmas, plasma diagnostics, communications, accelerators, radars, and millimetre-wave heating. Other research interests are in the areas of spectroscopy, reaction kinetics, and collision dynamics of a range of systems of wide current interest. The research areas can be grouped under two headings: the role of atoms, ions and molecules in plasmas; and molecular spectroscopy applied to remote sensing of the Earth's atmosphere. The plasma physics comprises high-temperature fusion and stellar plasmas, including that of the solar corona, and low temperature discharges. The atmospheric spectroscopy involves exploration of the greenhouse effect and the development of field instrumentation for remote sensing. A wide range of modern experimental spectroscopic techniques, in particular Fourier-transformation and tunable-laser spectroscopy, are employed to investigate the fundamental processes. There is a strong theoretical computational group focussed principally on electron collisions and spectral emission from plasmas. This work is closely linked to major Earth observation, astrophysical, fusion and heavy ion ring laboratories in Europe with substantial staff mobility. Lead researchers: Professor A Phelps, Professor N R Badnell, Professor R Bingham, Professor H P Summers, A Cross, B McNeil, G Robb, and K Ronald Intense laser interaction studies The Group has experimental and theoretical research programmes in: X-ray production through high harmonic generation (which can be synthesised into attosecond pulses) and Bremsstrahlung when intense laser pulses interact with matter. Nonlinear optics including Raman and super-radiant amplification, guiding and induced transparency arising when intense laser pulses interact in a preformed plasma. Advanced accelerators (laser-wakefield acceleration and its application to free-electron lasers). Terahertz generation from magnetised plasmas. Femtosecond laser micromachining. Photofragmentation studies of molecules. Ultrashort electron-pulse generation and laser-assisted acceleration. Sub-cycle pulse generation using electron beams, semiconductors and plasmas. Interaction of terahertz pulses with plasma, semiconductors, and simple quantum systems. Super-radiant amplification in free-electron maser amplifiers. Plasma studies (interaction of ultra-intense pulses with atomic clusters, gas jets, foils and solids). Collective scattering processes in solid-state plasmas and classical scatterers. Lead researchers: Professor D Jaroszynski, Professor K Ledingham, W Galster, P McKenna Ultra-intense laser nuclear and plasma studies Research topics: medical isotope production (PET); laser-driven transmutation; ion acceleration in relativistic laser plasma interactions; laser-driven heavy-ion nuclear reactions; electron / positron plasma confinement experiments; laser-driven isomer excitation; femtosecond laser mass spectrometry; and intensity selective scanning. Lead researchers: Professor K W D Ledingham, P McKenna, and W Galster Nanoscience (Head of Group: Professor K O’Donnell) Lead researchers: Professor D Birch, Professor R Martin, Professor K O'Donnell, K Wynne, I Ruddock, A Cunningham, T Han, C Trager-Cowan, O Rolinski, B Hourahine, H Fraser, and Y Chen Biomolecular and chemical physics Photophysics - Research concerns improving our understanding of the formation and

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dynamics of nanostructures such as ceramics, soft solids and macromolecules, and the related development of molecular sensors through innovation in fluorescence metrology, particularly when time-resolved. Environmental optics - We are interested in problems of radiance transfer in seawater, light utilisation by phytoplankton, optical monitoring of ecological processes, and remote sensing in the marine environment. These problems all involve the application of physical principles in an interdisciplinary context. Ultra-fast physics - The main research interests: are the study of ultrafast terahertz dynamics in the condensed phase, the structure and femtosecond dynamics of proteins, and terahertz technology. Some of our work concentrates on associating liquids and the types of vibrational and rotational motions that describe the dynamics on a timescale of a few hundred femtoseconds. Of particular interest to us are peptides, their interactions with the surrounding liquid (often water) and the sub-picosecond fluctuations that drive biochemical reactions in enzymes. Our very latest work aims to observe the structural changes that occur at the active site of enzymes during their catalytic cycle. Astrochemistry - This is the study of molecules in space (where they are, how they got there, and what role they play in controlling or influencing astrophysical processes). Chemistry, interstellar molecules in particular, is one of modern astronomy’s best tools for probing the processes of star and planet formation. Through a combination of observational spectroscopy and imaging, theoretical modelling and controlled laboratory studies, we are beginning to unlock the secrets of the cosmic chemical cauldron. Semiconductor spectroscopy and devices Research interests include: materials issues; Stark superlattices; electron beam-pumped and photo-pumped semiconductor lasers; magneto-optic spectroscopy; time-resolved luminescence; spatially and spectrally resolved photo- and cathodoluminescence; scanning probe microscopy; localised excitons; and optical properties of nanostructures. Institute of Photonics (Associate Directors: Professor M Dawson and Professor J Girkin) The research environment at the Institute of Photonics mixes the purely academic with the real world requirements of industry. The technical focus can be summarised as all-solid-state light sources. Research interests include: A range of semiconductor and all-solid-state materials systems; materials, devices and system development; applications; materials and devices (including gallium nitride); laser system development; and semiconductor optoelectronics. Lead researchers: Professor J Girkin, Professor M Dawson, I Watson, D Burns, E Gu, S Calvez, A Kemp, A Wright, J Hastie, and J M Hopkins

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Universities in WALES Institution: Aberystwyth University Department: Institute of Mathematical and Physical Sciences Head of Department: Professor N Greaves URL: www.aber.ac.uk/maps/en Solar System physics (Head of Group: Professor M Grande) Lead researchers: Professor M Grande, A Breen, D Brown, X Li, B Pinter, and S E Pryse The Group is interested in studying the chain of events leading from the Sun to the Earth. Major parts of the research programme are concerned with the acceleration of the solar wind, and the effects of the impact of the solar wind on our ionised atmosphere. Materials physics (Head of Group: Professor G N Greaves) Lead researchers: Professor G N Greaves, Professor D A Evans, T E Jenkins, D Langstaff, R Winter, M Wilding and F Kargl Our research applies advanced experiments and computational modelling to determine the way in which atomic-scale processes influence properties such as fracture, melting, conductivity and light emission in materials such as glass, ceramics, semiconductors, nanoparticles and thin films. Applied mathematics (Head of Group: S J Cox) Lead researchers: Professor K Walters, D M Binding, and S J Cox Research interests lie in predicting the structure and dynamics of foams and related complex fluids, particularly their rheology, including elongational flows and flows around obstacles.

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Institution: Cardiff University Department: School of Physics and Astronomy Head of Department: Professor W Gear URL: www.astro.cardiff.ac.uk Musical acoustics (Head of Group: B Richardson) The main focus of research is stringed instruments and in particular the classical guitar. We have a wide range of facilities at our disposal in our laboratory and have employed numerous and diverse scientific techniques to investigate the acoustics of the classical guitar. Optoelectronics (Head of Group: Professor P Blood) Lead researchers: Professor P Blood, Professor A Ivanov, W Langbein, P Smowton, H Summers, and D Westwood Our research: optical biochips; GaInP quantum dot lasers; quantum optoelectronics and biophotonics; InGa(Al)N quantum well heterostructures; multi-quantum barriers in red lasers; photon mediated phenomena; red emitting quantum well lasers; theoretical and experimental studies of quantum dots; mid-infrared InSb-based lasers; THz sources utilising ridge lasers; computer modelling of semiconductor waveguides; and theoretical research. Nanophysics (Head of Group J E Macdonald) Lead researchers: J E Macdonald, C C Matthai, M Elliott, and J E Inglesfield Miniaturisation irresistibly drives mechanical, chemical and electronic device dimensions towards the nanometer scale. Much of this is currently enabled by lithographic processes in which macroscopic materials such as silicon are patterned to ever finer length-scales. An alternative ‘bottom-up’ approach, molecular nanotechnology, aims to exploit specific interactions between molecules to assemble functional structures. Life itself is based on interactions between complexes of macromolecules and smaller molecules in the densely populated watery environment of the cell. The central aim of our research is to understand the physics of interactions between molecules, possible approaches to controlling molecules and electrical transport in molecular systems - an understanding of which will underpin future molecular nanotechnology. We investigate both biomolecular and synthetic polymer systems. The focus of the biomolecular programme is to investigate the effect of solvent effects and electric fields on conformation and transport processes whereas the synthetic polymer work concentrates on nanoscale deposition and properties of semiconducting molecules and macromolecules. Research interests: single molecule conductance; scanning probe microscopy (SPM); polymer interfaces; physics in reduced dimensions; and modelling of biomolecular transport and conformation.

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Gravitational physics (Head of Group: B Sathyaprakash) Lead researchers: Professor L Grishchuk, Professor B Sathyaprakash, Professor B Schutz, J Romano, S Fairhurst, P Sutton, and I Taylor Our research interests include the origin and nature of both the microwave and

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gravitational wave backgrounds (CMB) in the early Universe and their detection, the formation, evolution and nature of large-scale structure in the Universe, alternative formulations of general relativity, gravitational wave data analysis, analytical and numerical studies of isolated and binary black holes, gravitational radiation reaction, etc. The group is a member of many international gravitational wave projects including GEO600, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), and Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Astronomy instrumentation (Head of Group: W K Gear) Lead researchers: Professor P Ade, Professor W Gear, Professor M Griffin, P Hargrave, P Mauskopf, C Tucker, and D Ward-Thompson The group specialises in technology development and experimental astrophysics and cosmology at far-infrared to millimetre wavelengths. Major current projects include Planck-HFI, Herschel-SPIRE, SCUBA2 Clover (CMB B-mode Polarisation) and QUaD (CMB polarisation). On the technology side, we are working on superconducting detectors for future experiments, cryogenics and optical components including filters. Galaxies (Head of Group: Professor M Disney) Lead researchers: Professor M Disney, J Davies, and A Nelson Research projects: cold dark matter (CDM); the Virgo Cluster survey; the Hubble Space Telescope; the AGES survey; the HIPASS and HIJASS surveys, numerical simulations; dust in galaxies; and star formation history of dwarf galaxies. Star formation (Head of Group: Professor A P Whitworth) Lead researchers: Professor A P Whitworth and D Ward-Thompson Our theoretical programme focuses on simulations of collapsing molecular clouds, protostellar and proto-planetary disks, binary stars, and computational radiative transfer. Our observational programme includes observations of pre-stellar cores and young stellar objects in star forming regions, using major international telescopes (eg JCMT, IRAM and ISO). Finally, the Group specialises in the design and construction of astronomical instrumentation at millimetre and sub-millimetre wavelengths, for ground and space-based observatories (eg SCUBA2, SPIRE and THUMPER). Chemical evolution of galaxies (Head of Group: Professor M Edmunds) Lead researchers: Professor M Edmunds and H Gomez The Group is investigating the time evolution of chemical abundances in the Universe, including quasi-stellar objects (QSO) absorption and spectra. We are also carrying out theoretical studies of the chemical evolution of galaxies, particularly the effects of gas flows and determination of chemical abundances from spectra of HII regions and stars. The primordial abundances and evolution of deuterium and helium are also being studied. We have recently been investigating the evolution of the dust cycle in galaxies, particularly in the origin of dust. Our latest work with the observational cosmology group has discovered that supernovae or their progenitor stars may be responsible for polluting the interstellar medium with lots of dust.

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Previously it was thought that low mass stars, which take around a billion years to evolve, were the main contributor to the dust budget. We used a sub-millimetre camera in Hawaii to look at young remnants. We found that around one solar mass of dust was found in Kepler's supernova remnant and possibly more in the Cassiopeia A remnant. We are now trying to determine if the dust was formed in the supernova shock itself or from the previous stellar wind. Observational cosmology (Head of Group: Professor S Eales) Lead researchers: Professor S Eales and S Dye The goal of our research group is to understand the origin of galaxies and how they have evolved during the 13.7 billion years since the Big Bang. The finite speed of light means that this should be quite easy, at least in principle. By looking at galaxies billions of light years away, we can see what galaxies looked like billions of years in the past, and therefore by comparing galaxies at different distances and thus different ages, we can directly observe galaxy evolution. The problem is that galaxies billions of light years away are very faint. Although we use the biggest telescopes around, such as the telescopes on Mauna Kea, our research programmes are always at the limit of what is observationally possible. Our current research falls into four main areas: sub-millimetre surveys; optical-infrared surveys; dust in the Galaxy and in other galaxies; and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The Observatory at Cardiff The Observatory is located at Cardiff University Department of Physics and Astronomy. It is used by staff and students of Cardiff University, as well as by the local Cardiff Astronomical Society. Our main telescopes are: a 12inch Meade optical reflecting telescope; a solar telescope; a 3m radio telescope; and various smaller telescopes and antennas. In addition we have various CCD camera systems and other detectors and spectrometers.

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Institution: Swansea University Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor G Shore URL: www.swan.ac.uk/physics Atomic, molecular and laser physics (Head of Group: Professor M Charlton) Lead researchers: Professor M Charlton, Professor H Telle, W Bryan, S Eriksson, S Jonsell, N Madsen, and D van der Werf Antihydrogen physics We were part of the ATHENA team that first demonstrated the production of cold antihydrogen at CERN’s Antiproton Decelerator facility. The nested Penning trap technique was used in which clouds of antiprotons are mixed with dense positron plasmas under controlled conditions. We have since gone on to undertake pioneering studies of several aspects of antihydrogen physics. Using ATHENA’s unique annihilation detector (which can register the annihilation of the neutral antiatoms as they hit the walls of the charged particle traps) it has been possible to make simple cuts to the data to isolate the antihydrogen signal from other sources of annihilation. This has enabled us to show that antihydrogen is efficiently produced, mainly in high lying Rydberg states. We have studied the spatial distribution of antihydrogen atoms, which has allowed us to conclude that the antiatoms are formed before the antiprotons reach thermal equilibrium with the trapped positrons. ATHENA also developed special techniques to manipulate, and diagnose remotely, the properties of the positron plasmas used in the experiment and have been able to use these methodologies to measure the (positron) temperature dependence of antihydrogen formation. Again, the results point to the formation of antihydrogen by epithermal antiprotons. There is much further to understand regarding these data. We have also become expert in tailoring the properties of our positron plasmas and recently reached record densities for these novel antimatter entities of over 1010 cm-3. A new antihydrogen apparatus, built by the new ALPHA collaboration, was commissioned in 2006. This apparatus is being used for on-going experiments aimed at trapping some of the antihydrogen atoms we produce to facilitate future experiments, comparing the properties of hydrogen and antihydrogen. We have also performed pioneering theoretical work on the low-temperature interaction between antihydrogen and ordinary atoms. Possible scattering channels include both annihilation and rearrangement processes such as positronium formation, and even formation of atom-antiatom molecules. We developed theoretical methods for these collisions, which have been applied to antihydrogen-hydrogen and antihydrogen-helium collisions. The possibility of sympathetic cooling of antihydrogen has also been investigated. For the future we plan calculations of the properties of Rydberg antihydrogen in strong magnetic fields. Low-energy positron physics We have constructed a unique low-energy positron beamline capable of producing bursts of about 100,000 positrons at a rate of 10 Hz. To do this a two-stage buffer gas positron accumulator has been constructed, which is essentially a scaled down version of the ATHENA (see above) 3-stage device. The trap is a Penning-Malmberg device; transverse confinement is provided by an axial magnetic field, while axial confinement is achieved using appropriate electrical potentials applied to a series of electrodes. The buffer gas is used to capture the positrons, since as they pass through the system they are likely to electronically excite the molecular nitrogen gas and thereby lose about 8 eV of kinetic energy. By applying the right size of step

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between the trap stages, positrons are steadily accumulated. By suddenly changing the voltages on the trap, the positrons can be ejected and fired onto a target in a burst about 10-15 ns wide. Currently we plan to investigate positronium spectroscopy. Positronium, the hydrogen-like bound state of an electron and a positron is copiously formed when low-energy positrons strike solid targets in vacuum. The positronium burst will be overlapped by tunable pulse (10 ns wide pulses at 10 Hz) of laser light. In another study we will investigate magnetised Rydberg positronium produced when positrons strike surfaces in vacuum immersed in a strong (~ 5 T) magnetic field. To do this a special high-field system with cryogenic capabilities has been developed. Neutrino mass This project relates to neutrinos and the recent discovery that they have non-zero mass. Swansea is part of a large multi-national collaboration called KATRIN (KArlsruhe TRItium Neutrino experiment) which aims to make an absolute mass determination, or set a stringent upper limit on the neutrino mass, by making a precise measurement of the beta-decay spectrum of tritium near its endpoint (around 18.6 keV). Essentially a very large electron spectrometer has been designed and its construction is nearing completion. The principle of operation of the analyser is based upon previous experiments in Germany and Russia, but the new experiment is aiming for a sensitivity of about 0.2 eV, which is a factor of ten better performance than achieved in the earlier studies. We have successfully developed an extremely sensitive laser Raman system to continuously monitor the purity of the tritium gas as it is cycled around the apparatus. The Raman system has now been transferred from Swansea to Karlsruhe to undergo on-line testing. At the expected level of sensitivity it is also necessary to take into account the energy loss of the beta particles due to excitations of the chemical environment. We have taken part in theoretical calculations of the spectrum of molecular states after the decay. This final-state spectrum will be used in the analysis of the experimental data from KATRIN. Ultra-fast atomic and molecular physics We have worked alongside groups from UCL and QUB on ultra-fast effects in atoms and molecules probed by femtosecond lasers. Much of this work has taken place at the Astra Laser Facility at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL). Few-cycle laser pulses have been used to pump-and-probe vibrational wavepacket dynamics in simple molecular ions such as H2

+, D2+ and HD+. This work has been successfully

coupled with quantum mechanical simulations of the molecular motion. Ultra-short pulses have also been used to control the dissociation mechanism of small molecular ions via the creation of coherent nuclear wavepackets. Work in this area, which could have significance for quantum state control for quantum computation, is ongoing. We have also investigated ionisation and dissociation mechanisms in small molecules using intense laser pulses. Investigations of above threshold ionisation of rotationally cold trapped HD+ molecules have revealed, at laser intensities of around 1015 Wcm-2, that dissociation following the absorption of at least four 800 nm photons dominates. Ultra-cold atoms and degenerate quantum gases Working as part of a team at Imperial College London we have spearheaded the efforts to confine and manipulate ultracold neutral atoms in microtraps. This team achieved the first ever Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC) on a permanently magnetised atom chip and were the first group in the UK to make a BEC on a silicon atom chip. As a part of the Imperial College team we have also been the first to show that single atom detection can be achieved using microfabricated optical cavities on silicon atom chips with a scheme which is scalable. This achievement which is

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currently unique opens up possibilities to create small portable quantum atom optics devices with applications in quantum metrology and quantum information processing. In Swansea, we will start a new group which will capitalise on this newfound knowledge. We will extend the work at Imperial College on the trapped atom interferometer to include atoms belonging to fermionic species and we will investigate ways to utilise large and dense samples to improve measurement sensitivity eg by multiparticle entanglement. We will use the newly developed microdetection techniques to observe the trapped atoms in situ with single atom sensitivity. Theoretical studies of cold atoms In collaboration with an experimental group at Umeå University, Sweden, we study the properties of atoms in near-resonant optical lattices. Recent achievements include the creation of a Brownian motor, in which a controllable directed motion of the atoms is driven by random fluctuations from absorption and spontaneous emission of photons. We are also working to get a more detailed understanding of the so-called Sisyphus mechanism, which provides cooling of atoms down to the microKelvin regime. From both Monte Carlo simulations and experiments we see evidence that the cooling originates from the transfer of atoms from a hot mode of free atoms to a cold mode where the atoms are trapped in the wells of the optical lattice. We also study the properties of ultracold few-atom systems. An example is the recent discovery of a new kind of trimer, called an Efimov state, where our calculations have helped to interpret the experimental findings. Other studies include the universal properties of tightly confined few-atom systems, which exist eg in optical lattices and in microtraps. Condensed matter and nanoscale physics (Head of Group: P Dunstan) Lead researchers: Professor H Telle and P Dunstan The fundamental understanding of the electronic, structural, chemical and optical properties of materials on the nanoscale is essential for advances in nanotechnology. Developments in experimental physics underpin these advances via characterisation and quantification of quantum phenomena which can dominate at these length scales. Work here has concentrated particularly on the optical properties of materials on the nanoscale. Using advances in scanning probe microscopy (and in particular scanning near-field optical microscopy), semiconductor materials, devices and soft organic materials have been the subject of investigation. Research in semiconductor physics has focused on the ability to characterise and control surface and interface properties on the atomic scale in order to advance semiconductor technology. Imaging developments in chromosome and DNA characterisation have improved optical resolution and helped in understanding the interactions of such matter with organic dyes. Recent research on inorganic quantum dots has also led to the development of nanoscale spectroscopy measurements utilising the near-field excitation of the near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM). Applications of this near-field arrangement are exploring the use of inorganic tags within biological tagging and collaborations with our medical school are on-going in this area of high-resolution optical imaging. Theoretical particle physics (Head of Group: Professor G Shore) Lead researchers: Professor D Dunbar, Professor S Hands, Professor T

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Hollowood, Professor D Olive, Professor G Shore, G Aarts, A Armoni, C Allton, P Kumar, B Lucini, A Naqvi, C Nunez, and W Perkins Gauge-string duality and supersymmetric gauge theories In its modern realisation, string theory has evolved from its original role as a candidate unified ‘theory of everything’ into a powerful and wide-ranging tool for theorists investigating both the strong and weak coupling regimes of quantum gauge theories and gravity. The Group has been at the forefront of the development of gauge-string duality (or the ‘AdS/CFT’ correspondence) and of string-inspired techniques in supersymmetry, quantum gravity and perturbative gauge theories. Gauge-string duality allows known string and supergravity solutions to be used to infer results on the phase structure and strong-coupling dynamics of supersymmetric gauge theories, including the phenomenologically important N = 1 theory. Conversely, known results on the thermodynamic properties of gauge theories can give radical new insights into conceptually deep problems in quantum gravity concerning quantum black holes and spacetime singularities. Originally, the AdS/CFT correspondence involved gauge theories with N = 4 supersymmetry. A major focus of the Group’s research is to extend the use of gauge-string duality to more realistic gauge theories with less supersymmetry, in particular N =1. This has allowed the calculation of many strong-coupling features of these theories, including chiral symmetry breaking, instantons, Seiberg duality and Wilson loops.

Other string-inspired techniques are also used to study supersymmetric gauge theories. The Group has pioneered the use of multi-instanton and matrix model methods in deriving a remarkable range of exact properties of supersymmetric gauge theories, including the evaluation of the gluino condensate in N =1 super Yang-Mills, the demonstration of S duality in N = 2 Seiberg-Witten theory, and the determination of the exact superpotential and vacuum structure in a large class of deformed N = 4 theories. A notable feature is the relation of this quantum vacuum structure to integrability in classical dynamical systems.

Other topics currently under investigation include the dynamics of domain walls in N = 1 theories, the role of instantons and monopoles in supersymmetric gauge theories, topological string theory on manifolds of G2 holonomy, and the use of gauge-string duality to discover new phases of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) -related theories at non-zero temperature and density. This reflects a growing convergence in the Group between the research programme in gauge-string duality and lattice field theory, notably in the areas of large-Nc QCD, k-strings, the phase structure of gauge theories, and the physics of the quark-gluon plasma.

Quantum gravity and quantum fields in curved spacetime

The Group is increasing its focus on quantum gravity and spacetime physics with investigations of quantum black holes, string effects on singularities and quantum fields in curved spacetime.

A central problem in quantum gravity is the resolution of spacetime singularities. This is being studied by investigating the quantisation of strings in spacetimes exhibiting time-dependent singularities, showing how string theory may resolve conceptual issues with unitarity, energy non-conservation and the occurrence of closed time-like curves.

Another key area is the quantum theory of black holes. Here, the Group is studying

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string theory models of black holes and improving our understanding of Hawking radiation by using gauge-string duality to relate the black hole dynamics to its holographic dual, N = 4 super Yang-Mills theory at non-zero temperature. These studies have revealed new phases of quantum black holes in string theory, initiating a promising new line of research in non-perturbative quantum gravity. Quantum gravitational optics, a subject pioneered by the Group, is the study of curved spacetime as an optical medium for the propagation of photons. In quantum electrodynamics (QED), vacuum polarisation in curved spacetime induces characteristic optical phenomena such as dispersion and birefringence which are absent in classical general relativity, and predicts that low-frequency propagation may be superluminal. Recent studies show how this superluminal speed of light may be reconciled with a causally consistent high-frequency limit, revealing the remarkable phenomenon that locality, or microcausality, is violated in quantum theories involving gravity.

A closely related programme is the study of phenomenological theories exhibiting violation of Lorentz or CPT symmetry. Investigations are carried out into possible observational signatures of these theories in astrophysical polarimetry and high-precision atomic spectroscopy. This is related to the antihydrogen programme carried out at CERN by the Swansea atomic physics research group.

A novel duality conjecture relating supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory to topological strings has given fresh impetus to the programme of calculating multi-particle scattering amplitudes in perturbative gauge theories and supergravity. These new, twistor-inspired techniques build on existing unitarity-cut methods developed by the Group and have superseded conventional Feynman diagram techniques as the most efficient calculational tool for computing amplitudes. The Group is currently using these techniques to study N = 8 supergravity and has discovered unexpectedly well-behaved UV properties, raising the possibility that this may indeed be a perturbatively finite quantum theory of gravity.

Quantum chromodynamics (QCD)

Another application of these new perturbative methods is to the computation of one-loop multi-gluon / quark amplitudes in QCD. The Group is involved in studying the twistor-space structure of these amplitudes, which are used in the modelling of multi-jet processes, which form the standard model background for new physics discovery channels at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Other string-related developments under investigation by the group are related to non-perturbative QCD. ‘Planar equivalence’ of supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric theories in a large Nc limit has led to the development of ‘orientifold’ theories which interpolate between N =1 super Yang-Mills and QCD, enabling non-perturbative quantities in QCD to be calculated to leading order using the better understood supersymmetric theory. This has allowed the determination of the quark condensate in QCD from knowledge of the gluino condensate in N = 1 super Yang-Mills.

Anomalies and gauge field topology play important roles in QCD and have important experimental consequences in polarised deep-inelastic scattering and low-energy pseudoscalar meson physics. A recent highlight of this research programme was the experimental confirmation in 2006 by the COMPASS and HERMES collaborations of a numerical prediction for the sum rule for the first moment of the polarised proton structure function g1

p (the famous ‘proton spin’ crisis) in terms of the gluon

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topological susceptibility. A related sum rule can be deduced for the corresponding photon structure function g1

γ and cross-section calculations indicate that this may become experimentally accessible with the ultra-high luminosity which can be achieved in the new generation of B factories at SLAC and SuperKEKB.

Both the DIS sum rules and generalised U(1)A PCAC relations for the pseudoscalar mesons involve the gluon topological susceptibility. While early estimates relied on spectral sum rule techniques, lattice gauge theory simulations have now reached the point where realistic calculations can be performed of the full QCD topological susceptibility with light dynamical quarks, and the Group is collaborating in these studies.

Lattice gauge theory

Lattice gauge theory is one of the major areas of activity in the Group, covering a range of topics from the phase structure of QCD at high temperature or density to precision determinations of the hadron spectrum and properties of gauge theories generalising QCD to large Nc.

As a member of the UKQCD collaboration, the Group has been involved in an extensive programme of research on light hadron spectroscopy in QCD simulations using non-perturbatively improved dynamical fermions. A speciality is the use of advanced spectroscopic techniques enabling spectral functions to be derived both for hadronic spectrum studies at zero and non-zero temperature, and investigations of the quark-gluon plasma. Mechanisms for confinement are also being investigated through lattice simulations.

Generalisations of QCD with different numbers of colours, flavours and novel fermion representations are of interest both as theoretical laboratories where new ideas arising from string theory, large Nc and AdS/CFT may be tested and also as possible models of electroweak dynamical symmetry breaking. The Group is at the forefront of research in this area, matching analytic approaches with lattice simulations, notably in the study of k-strings and the validity of the large Nc limit for Nc = 3 QCD.

These lattice simulations have been carried out using the UKQCD 10-teraflop QCDOC machine based in Edinburgh together with in-house facilities, especially a 128 processor special purpose APEMille supercomputer and a 60 processor PC cluster. Simulations are also performed on the University’s Blue C supercomputer based on IBM HPCx technology.

QCD at extreme temperature and density

An increasing focus of activity is the study of QCD in extreme environments of temperature and baryon density, relevant for the early Universe, the deep interior of neutron stars, and the experimental heavy-ion programme at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) and the LHC.

The Group has made important contributions in the determination of the (T,µ) phase diagram in QCD, and in elucidating the novel physics arising in QCD-related models at finite density. Two models of special interest are SU(2)c QCD, where the first observation of a decoupling phase transition at high baryon density was made, and the NJL model, where superfluid behaviour related to the formation of a diquark condensate has been demonstrated. In QCD itself, a study was made of the critical

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line and equation of state across the quark-hadron phase transition for small but non-zero baryon chemical potential. This regime is relevant to heavy-ion collisions at RHIC and the forthcoming ALICE experiment at the LHC.

Most recently, the Group has extended its activity into non-equilibrium quantum field theory and transport properties of the quark-gluon plasma. Transport coefficients, such as viscosity or electrical conductivity, are derived from appropriate spectral functions and can be extracted from lattice simulations of correlation functions in QCD at finite temperature. Reliable lattice studies are especially important in view of the likelihood that the quark-gluon plasma formed in heavy-ion collisions is strongly coupled, and should allow detailed tests of conjectures based on gauge-string duality. The Group has recently used improved numerical methods to extract spectral functions in hot, quenched QCD and extracted a value for the electrical conductivity in the strong coupling regime above the deconfinement transition.

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Universities in NI and IRELAND Institution: The Queen’s University of Belfast Department: School of Mathematics and Physics Head of Department: Professor F Keenan URL: www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofMathematicsandPhysics Astrophysics Research Centre (Head of Group: Professor P Dufton) Lead researchers: Professor P Dufton, Professor T Millar, Professor A Fitzsimmons, Professor F Keenan, Professor S Smartt, R Kotak, M Mathioudakis, and D Pollacco We carry out research in a number of stellar, galactic and Solar System areas. We are an observational astronomy group employing both large ground-based telescopes and space observatories including the European Southern Observatory (ESO), Gemini and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). There is also a programme on the study of laboratory plasmas and their astrophysical counterparts. Our research topics: hot stars; nebulae; cool stars and the Sun; supernovae; comets and asteroids; Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP); interstellar medium; astronomical and laboratory plasmas; non-LTE modelling of stellar atmospheres; and astrochemistry. Atomistic Simulation Centre (Head of Group: Professor A T Paxton) Lead researchers: Professor P Ballone, Professor P Hu, Professor A T Paxton, J Kohanoff, T Todorov, and P Delaney We use a variety of methods for simulating condensed matter at the atomic scale, ranging from empirical potentials to fully ab initio calculations. Materials and their interfaces, liquids and solutions are studied with the aim of explaining observed phenomena in terms of basic atomic properties. Centre for Statistical Science and Operational Research (Head of Group: A H Marshall) Lead researchers: P Hudson, A H Marshall, and K Cairns Current research interests include survival analysis, Bayesian networks, Markov modelling and stochastic models. Centre for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics (Head of Group: Professor H R J Walters) Lead researchers: Professor D S F Crothers, Professor A Hibbert, Professor K T A Taylor, Professor H R J Walters, Professor M A B Whitaker, G Gribakin, M S Kim, J F McCann, P H Norrington, S F C O’Rourke, C A Ramsbottom, R H G Reid, M P Scott, D Sokolovski, and H W van der Hart Intense laser-matter interactions Multiphoton absorption: Laser-driven dissociative ionisation of H2. Laser-driven helium. R-matrix (Floquet and time-dependent). Non-sequential double-ionisation for elliptically polarised fields. Relativistic dynamics. Pulse propagation. Electron-

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electron interactions in cluster dynamics. Quantum optics: The study of interactions of atomic and molecular systems with the electromagnetic field. Quantum information processing. Quantum cryptography and Quantum computation. Quantum information theory. Laser cooling and spectroscopy. Atomic physics for astrophysics Calculating accurate oscillator strengths (or equivalently A-values) for astrophysically important atoms and ions. Calculating electron-impact excitation cross-sections and rates, incorporating important effects such as correlation, configuration interaction and the complicated resonance phenomena which are found to be essential in producing rates of the highest accuracy. Addressing the problem of accurate determination of electron impact excitation rates for low ionisation stages of iron peak elements. Applications of many-body theory in atomic physics Electron-ion recombination; many-body theory in atoms; electron-atom scattering, negative ions, and photodetachment; interaction of positrons with atoms and molecules (scattering, bound states and annihilation); quantum chaos in complex atoms and other many-body systems; multiphoton processes in strong laser fields; and cold atom scattering. Centre for Plasma Physics (Head of Group: Professor W G Graham) Lead researchers: Professor W G Graham, Professor C Latimer, Professor C Lewis, Professor R McCullough, Professor I Williams, M Borghesi, F Currell, J Greenwood, M Lamb, D Riley, T field, M Zepf, and X Zheng High temperature, laser produced plasma physics. Low temperature, electrically produced plasma physics (helium-based atmospheric pressure glow discharge, electronegative inductively-coupled discharges, and plasma in liquids). Atomic, molecular and ion physics: intense laser interactions with atoms, ions and molecules; the physics and applications of highly charged ions; biomolecular fragmentation and DNA damage; the dynamics of molecules in x-ray and electron beams; and laboratory astrophysics. Centre for Nanostructured Media (Head of Group: R M Bowman) Lead researchers: Professor R Atkinson, Professor S Zayats, P Dawson, J Marty Gregg, R Bowman, and R Pollard Ferroelectrics We mostly work with, and look at, thin films, multilayers and superlattice structures. The current headline activities include: Nano-scaled ferroelectric materials prepared by pulsed laser deposition and solution deposition techniques on nanostructured substrates. Properties of paraelectric, ferroelectric and antiferroelectric superlattices. Phase transitions in (Ba,Sr)TiO3 thin films. Fatigue phenomena in PZT thin film capacitors. Resonant electromechanical thin films and devices. Single crystal ferroelectric thin films by micromachining. Interface effects in ceramic multilayer capacitors. Other ferroics, multi-ferroics, oxides and exotic materials with inherent nanostructures.

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Magnetics Research: Fundamentals and applications of magnetic media in the form of thin and ultrathin films. Cutting edge, advanced materials are being investigated that have applications in conventional data storage, such as PC hard disc drives, as well as recently developed magneto-optic drives like the new re-writeable mini-disc systems. Present and future activities are driven by the future needs of the information storage industry and exciting new developments in the fields of magnetism and magneto-optics. We will be making use of new phenomena in magnetics, namely second harmonic magneto-optic Kerr effects, to study the magnetism of surfaces and interfaces that is so important modern magnetic devices. Structured substrates Near-field optics The development of scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) has opened the possibility for studying numerous optical phenomena with a resolution well below the diffraction limit. Recent advances in nano-optics have led to breakthroughs in nanotechnology, nanophotonics, optical communication and computing, and quantum electrodynamics studies. Our interests in nano-optics embrace fundamental as well as applied aspects of this groundbreaking area. Current research: Local second-harmonic generation in magnetic and ferroelectric materials and domains imaging. Linear and nonlinear optical properties of nanostructured materials. Linear and nonlinear spectroscopy of photonic and polaritonic crystals. Nanoscopic light sources and apertureless second-harmonic near-field microscopy. Scanning probes The tunnelling of electrons and photons is an underlying theme in our research, as is the study or use of surface plasmons (propagating oscillations of the free electron gas at the surface of metals). Current investigations include: The temperature dependence of the optical response of metal silicides and high-Tc superconductors. The 2-dimensional micro-optics of surface plasmons. Electron-photon interactions in the electron scanning tunnelling microscope (STM). Optical resonances on metal grating surfaces. Instrument development is an integral part of the Group's activity. An optical scanning probe microscope and an electron STM with a dedicated photon collection facility are currently under construction. A magnetic force microscope has been built to observe fluxlines in superconductors. Work on surface plasmon dynamics and STM is performed with thin films of metal such as gold and silver. PtSi on silicon, a low barrier height Schottky interface, is being examined as are films of the high-Tc superconductors YBCO and NBCO. We also form structures on the micro- to nanoscale, ranging from grating profiled surfaces to etched optical fibre tips and features formed by use of the scanning probe microscopes.

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Institution: National University of Ireland, University College Cork Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor J McInerney URL: www.physics.ucc.ie Optoelectronics and nonlinear dynamics (joint UCC/CIT group) Lead researchers: Professor J McInerney (UCC) and G Huyet (CIT) Semiconductor laser physics and nonlinear dynamics. High power semiconductor lasers. Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. Quantum dot semiconductor lasers. Broad area semiconductor lasers. Nonlinear dynamics of external cavity lasers. Dynamical properties of bistable systems under the influence of noise, external injection and feedback. Broad area and high brightness semiconductor lasers. Quantum dot materials devices. Laser spectroscopy (joint Physics/Chemistry group) Lead researchers: Professor M Mansfield, Professor P Brint, A A Ruth, and D Venables Photophysics of large aromatic compounds. Trace gas detection. Laser assisted synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Methodologies. Photonic systems Lead researchers: Professor D Cotter, Professor P Townsend, A D Ellis, F Gunning, B Manning, and R Webb The research programme covers a broad range of advanced and novel photonic systems with applications in information and communications technology. The research includes nonlinear optics for optical signal processing; optical and optoelectronic device physics and their systems applications; optical and quantum communications; and optical sensors. Femtosecond optics Lead researcher: D Nikogosyan Fibre gratings are key elements of modern research and communication technology used in everything from spectrometers in laboratories to fibre-optic lines carrying transcontinental messages. These gratings are fabricated by exposure with ultraviolet light, and the origins of the photosensitivity of the glass are not fully understood. Using a novel source of high-intensity femtosecond ultra-violet light pulses, we will develop a new approach to the grating formation. We expect to improve the methods of their fabrication and make them more stable. Under our experimental conditions, the light interacting with the fibre core is absorbed by a ‘two-photon’ mechanism, leading to the formation of much stronger refractive index change than under conventional ultra-violet irradiation.

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Plasma physics Lead researchers: Professor M Mansfield and P McCarthy The Group performs computational studies and modelling of experimental data from magnetically confined reactor-grade plasmas in the area of controlled thermonuclear fusion research. Research interests: tokamak Equilibrium Interpretation; stellarator equilibrium parameterisation by database methods; analysis of MHD activity to improve q profile identification; and computational investigation of nonlinear edge localised mode (ELM) evolution Astrophysics Lead researchers: P Callanan and D Gabuzda Infrared, optical and x-ray observations of white dwarf, neutron star and black hole binaries, using ground based (eg Keck) and space borne (eg Chandra / XMM) observatories. High-resolution radio studies of active galactic nuclei (AGN) using very long baseline interferometry, studies of the compact relativistic jets of AGN, the structure and evolution of their magnetic fields, and interactions with the surrounding medium. Relativity and gravitation Lead researcher: Professor N O'Murchadha Mathematical relativity; the initial value problem of general relativity (both constraints and evolution); analytic support for numerical relativity; spherical solutions of the Einstein equations; and foundations of general relativity. Geometrical aspects of physics Lead researcher: M Vandyck The Group investigates geometrical and axiomatic aspects of the foundations of various physical theories, from classical mechanics up to string theory and supermanifolds. These investigations are carried out in collaboration with the School of Mathematics. Electronic structure theory Lead researchers: Professor S Fahy and Professor E O’Reilly Condensed matter theory, computational physics, and atomic and electronic structure of materials. Carrier transport in semiconductor alloys. Coherent phonon and carrier dynamics in photo-excited materials. Quantum Monte Carlo methods. Randomly driven nonlinear dynamical systems. Mössbauer spectroscopy Lead researcher: T Deeney Transmission and backscatter Mossbauer spectroscopy: to investigate magnetism and magnetic domain orientation in iron and iron alloys; to investigate the process of

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electrodeposition by looking at magnetic domain orientation; to investigate structures and bonding in organo-iron complexes; and to carry out various other studies of solid-state properties of iron, tin and europium. Ultra-cold quantum gases Lead researcher: T Busch The Group works on theoretical concepts for the implementation of ideas in quantum information using cold atomic gases. Current projects include a method for controlled creation of a many-particle entangled state, development of a quantum computer concept using topological qubits and a novel idea for robust state preparation of single atoms. Quantum optics Lead researcher: S Nic Chormaic The Group is involved in the study of the quantum behaviour of light and matter through experiments and theory. Current projects include: a thorough characterisation of rare-earth doped spherical microcavity resonators as potential lasing devices; a study of the interactions between cold rubidium atoms and the evanescent light field component emitted from micro-optics devices; and the creation of a superposition of a single atom in a microtrap system. Integrated Photonics Lead researcher: F H Peters Research: photonics integrated circuits (PICs), including monolithic and hybrid integration of devices based on III-V or silicon; high-speed photonic devices for next generation communications; physics of optical waveguides; integrated semiconductor lasers; and planar optical photonic devices. The integration is targeted towards applications in photonics systems, and includes research into the implementation of advanced modulation schemes in PICs. For proper analysis, the device work is supported by computational modelling and the development of infrastructure for the automation and characterisation of photonic devices

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Institution: Dublin City University Department: School of Mathematical Sciences Head of Department: Professor Emmanuel Buffett URL: http://www.dcu.ie/maths/research/index.shtml Mathematical Physics Lead researchers: Professor e Buffet, Professor j Burzlaff, Professor j Carroll, M Clancy, T Downes, J Appleby, O Menkens, A Murphy, B Nolan, Professor Eugene O'Riordan, N O'Sullivan and D Reynolds Research interests cover:

• Deterministic and stochastic functional differential equations • Stochastic Analysis • Star formation; high energy astrophysics, computational fluid dynamics • General relativity and gravitation • Mathematical Finance • Public-Key cryptography/Elliptic Curve Cryptography • Singularly perturbed differential equations • Numerical analysis • Differential Geometry • Dynamical Systems with Memory • Continuum Mechanics

Institution: Dublin City University Department: School of Physical Sciences Head of Department: Professor J Costello URL: www.dcu.ie/physics/research.shtml

Laser plasma research Lead researchers: Professor J T Costello, Professor E T Kennedy, J P Mosnier, and P van Kampen The Centre for Laser Plasma Research has worked on the application of laser-generated plasmas to problems in atomic and materials physics. In recent years, the programme has expanded to include laser-plasma sources development, laser-plasma diagnostics and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) of novel semiconductor materials. The Group has played a role in many national and international research collaborations including a new international research programme on the development of a femtosecond pump-probe facility involving the unique short wavelength Free Electron Laser under construction at DESY in Hamburg. The Group is a key part of the National Centre of Plasma Science and Technology and is divided into a range of laboratories focused on: pulsed laser deposition and diagnostics; photoionisation with free electrons; lasers and synchrotrons; laser plasma source development; ultrafast laser plasma imaging; and spectroscopy from the near infrared to the soft x-ray.

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Optical sensors Lead researchers: Professor B MacCraith and C McDonagh Researchers in the Optical Sensors Laboratory work on the development of optical solutions to real-world measurement problems in application areas such as environmental monitoring, biomedical sensing and food safety. Advances in optoelectronics are combined with new materials to produce novel devices, which undergo rigorous testing and characterisation. Projects are varied and often very multidisciplinary in nature, ranging, for example, from software modelling of optical waveguide structures to the development of ‘smart fluorescent coatings’ for aerodynamic testing of aircraft in wind-tunnels. The Group is part of two major Research Centres, the National Centre for Sensor Research which is a multidisciplinary centre focused on sensor development for a range of applications and the newly established Biomedical Diagnostics Institute whose main focus is the development of next-generation biomedical diagnostic devices, which will measure indicators of chronic disease such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Plasma research Lead researchers: Professor M M Turner, A R Ellingboe, and P Swift The Plasma Research Laboratory focuses on both experimental and computational aspects of radio frequency (RF) plasmas, which are used as ion sources in fusion research and for plasma processing in many industrial applications. RF plasma sources are developed and optimised, and the fundamental physics of plasma generation and stability are investigated. Electrical and laser diagnostics are also developed and sophisticated computer simulations are used to compare the experimental data to theory. The Laboratory leads the Irish Association in the European fusion development programme. Our fusion research is concerned with negative ion sources for neutral beam injection heating of magnetically confined fusion experiments, and the Laboratory is an important part of the National Centre for Plasma Sciences and Technology. Physics education Lead researchers: E McLoughlin, P van Kampen, and Professor M O Henry The Physics Education Group consists of active researchers in the Centre for the Advancement of Science Teaching and Learning which focuses on science education at primary, secondary and tertiary level in Dublin City University’s St. Patrick’s College. We carry out a coordinated program of research, curriculum development, and instruction to improve student learning in physics. The basis of all our work is activity-based learning in which the students play a central role in the teaching and learning process. Our work is guided by research, through in-depth studies of student understanding where common conceptual and reasoning difficulties are identified and addressed, and student attitudes towards physics are monitored. Currently our primary emphasis is on the teaching and learning of basic concepts and understanding of future secondary school science teachers and third level undergraduate students. Teaching methodologies such as problem based learning, guided inquiry and technology in learning, are implemented and evaluated.

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Sensor platforms Lead researcher: B Lawless Current work in the field of information and communication technologies has tended to concentrate on the problems of communication, transmission, processing and presentation of information. The problems associated with the collection of the primary information or data items have tended to be neglected. This is particularly true in the case of information, which has to be collected either at remote land stations or at sea. Prototype autonomous sensor platforms for use in the field and in the marine environment are being developed. The development of low cost integrated sensor and communication systems is also being investigated. Surfaces and interfaces Lead researchers: Professor G Hughes, A Cafolla, and E McLoughlin Fundamental studies of surfaces have led to important developments in related areas of applied science such as semiconductor microelectronics, thin films and corrosion science. Surface and interface research at Dublin City University has been generally oriented towards semiconductor materials, although recently the Group’s interests have expanded to encompass the behaviour of organic molecules on metal and semiconductor surfaces. We use a range of spectroscopic techniques including: Auger electron spectroscopy (AES); x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM); reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS); atomic force microscopy (AFM); and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) to investigate the structural, electronic and chemical properties of material surfaces. Particular emphasis is on the preparation and characterisation of clean atomically-ordered semiconductor surfaces and on modifying the chemical and physical properties of these surfaces in a controlled fashion. We are active users of synchrotron radiation sources and several of the present studies involve collaborations with other European laboratories, including groups in Lund, Nottingham and Berlin. The group has also carried out collaborative research projects with the Tyndall Institute and Intel, primarily aimed at investigating the chemical and electrical transport properties of advanced transistor gate dielectrics. Semiconductor spectroscopy Lead researchers: Professor M Henry and E McGlynn Semiconductors lie at the core of information and communications technology. Increasingly, research is being focused on the use of nanostructured semiconductor materials for next generation devices. Researchers at the Semiconductor Spectroscopy Laboratory contribute to research in these areas by studying the growth mechanisms of semiconductor nanostructures and by characterising these structures using optical and electronic spectroscopic methods to study the key critical properties of the semiconductor structures used in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Much of this work is carried out at very low temperatures where the material properties of the semiconductor are most clearly revealed. Facilities in the group include: vapour phase growth apparatus for nanostructure growth; high-performance spectrometers; a high field superconducting magnet; and an excellent range of cryogenic equipment. The topics studied include the analysis of nanostructured wide band-gap semiconductors such as ZnO and GaN grown using vapour phase transport and pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Impurity and defect analysis is carried

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out in a variety of semiconductors as well as the study of quantum dots in group IV and III-V materials. The Laboratory plays an important role in the National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology and is a participant in international experiments at CERN, where radioactive isotopes are used for the exploration of impurity characteristics in semiconductors. Astronomy and astrophysics Lead researchers: L Norci and B Frye The Group has a diversified research activity both observational and computational in nature. Research interests include: gamma-ray bursts – GRBs (optical spectroscopy and monitoring with the Robotic Eye Mount telescope and x-ray studies with the Swift satellite); optical spectroscopy of evolved massive stars; high-energy population synthesis simulations of starburst regions; and spectroscopy of high redshift lensing galaxies. Optical waveguide modelling Lead researcher: V Ruddy We study the propagation properties of light in optical waveguides – both planar and fibre – and their use in the detection of the physical environment in which the waveguides are located. Intensity-based sensors in which the evanescent fields of the waveguide modes interact with the cladding environs are modelled and investigated experimentally. The core mode properties and their interchange of energies via mode coupling are investigated in the context of in-fibre Bragg gratings. The latter are useful in the determination of the strain, strain gradient, temperature and temperature gradient of the medium in which the gratings are located. Theoretical models of both core and cladding modes are developed and investigated experimentally.

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Institution: Dublin Institute of Technology Department: School of Physics Head of Department: V Toal URL: www.physics.dit.ie Nanophysics and surfaces (Head of Group: D O’Mahony) The Group concentrates on the study of low-dimensional structures (such as one-dimensional wires and zero-dimensional quantum dots). Part of the work uses ultra-high vacuum technology (UHV) to prepare and preserve ultra-clean crystalline silicon surfaces. Materials deposited on these surfaces in layers averaging less than one atom thick can form highly regular and localised structures, in some cases forming idealised quantum wires. These nanostructures are of practical interest but are also ideal model systems for the study of physics at its most fundamental level. The optical analysis technique of reflection anisotropy spectroscopy (RAS) is used to monitor the growth of such ultrathin overlayers as well as low-energy electron diffraction, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and other in situ techniques. We also study metallic nanoclusters using optical and magneto-optical techniques. This involves work on the formation of nanocontacts to connect molecular transistor candidate materials to the outside world for conductance profiling. This delicate task involves using an atomic force microscope (AFM) to pick up and move metallic nanoclusters and arrange them to form a contact between macroscopic wires and the molecules. Physics of molecular materials (Head of Group: H Byrne) An area which has grown rapidly in recent years is that of the use of organic polymers for light-emitting devices. This group is working on the optimisation of such materials for laser applications by studying the fundamental processes of light emission. Ongoing work aims control vibrational relaxation, potentially leading to solid-state organic materials with light-emitting properties, which can surpass those of currently employed materials. The group is continuing investigations of fullerene thin films. The project aims at a further investigation of electronic processes as well as the nature of the metastable states in these materials, in particular through in situ Raman spectroscopy. A range of novel purification methods are being explored by the group, leading to more precise characterisation of the electronic and optical properties of carbon nanotubes. The group has more recently extended its activities to biological systems, and particularly biomedical applications of spectroscopy. The work is extended to the examination of the interaction of carbon nanotubes with biological systems to assess compatibility and toxicity. Metrology and optical sensing (Head of Group: J Walsh) Research being carried out includes optical sensor research and development. In particular: novel fibre-optic sensor systems for in vitro and in vivo analysis of mitochondrial redox reactions; improved I/O systems for fibre-optic spectrometers and examining aspects of the physics and engineering of the data acquisition; characterisation of different food contaminations that occur in the food sorting industry; atmospheric pollutant measurement; and the optical sensing of hydrocarbons and other pollutants in water using polymer coated mid-infrared optical fibres.

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Holographic photopolymers (Head of Group: V Toal) This group carries out research in photopolymer holographic materials and interferometric techniques for surface metrology and defect detection. These techniques include holographic interferometry, speckle interferometry and white light interferometry. The development of photopolymer holographic recording materials has been a key aim of the group for some years. Considerable progress has been made on a novel self-processing holographic recording material developed in our laboratories. Diffusion studies and careful modelling of the physical processes are helping to improve understanding of this and similar materials, leading to better control of the material properties. Applications in holographic imaging, diffractive optical elements, sensing and holographic interferometry for surface metrology, have already been demonstrated and published. Currently applications of the material are being investigated in both the production of holographic gratings for spectroscopy, and in holographic data storage and devices. Development of the material itself is also continuing and a number of projects are under way to improve the ability of the material to record high spatial frequency interference patterns in order to expand its range of applications. Vision sciences (Head of Group: J Walsh) Research activities: pre-attentive visual search in glaucoma; ophthalmic instrumentation (dark adaptometry); quantification of solar ultra-violet radiation at the ocular surface and the implications for prescribing in sport; design of a clinical aberrometer. Ophthalmic instrumentation Lead researcher: D O’Brien Designing an automatic dark adaptometer - an instrument designed to investigate human dark adaptation (night vision), as well as a test for the early detection of glaucoma based on the eye's sensitivity to flicker. Biospectroscopy Lead researchers: E O Faolain, F Lyng, and H Byrne Vibrational biospectroscopy (Raman and FTIR spectroscopy applied to biological systems such as cells and tissues) provides a vast array spectral information that contains chemical signatures of every molecule within the sample. The Group investigates methods utilising Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as diagnostic tools for imaging cancerous and pre-cancerous tissue sections or biopsies, with exciting new applications in the analysis of molecular changes at the cellular level. This research is being applied in the areas of cervical cancer diagnosis and diagnosis of spectral changes in irradiated biological systems. Medical ultrasound (Head of Group: J E Browne) The group concentrates on the medical ultrasound technology, disease characterisation using ultrasonic techniques and calibration of medical ultrasound equipment. The current research programmes include disease characterisation in the renal system and in the breast using medical ultrasonic techniques as well as the development of new calibration techniques for ultrasound quality control

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measurements. Biophysics and environmental physics (Head of Group: P Goodman) Biophysics The Group is involved in a number of medical physics related research projects, particularly in the area of physiological measurement. Environmental physics The health effects of particulate air pollution. Clinical measurement Lead researchers: M Hussey, P Goodman, and J Walsh Joint research projects with a range of hospitals around the country directing a number of hospital-based scientists and technologists who are registered for degrees of PGDip, MPhil or PhD. Examples of the research project currently underway are as follows: Investigation of the effect of variation in surface electrode type and placement on action potentials elicited by peripheral nerve stimulation. Effects of posture on quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) using multivariate analysis, during optimal hyperventilation activation in healthy adults. Use of transcranial doppler ultrasound in the detection of cerebral microemboli in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis who may be at risk of stroke. Validation and clinical application of a new method for determining flow in patients with chronic obstructive airways disease. Doppler tissue imaging in pathological and physiological hearts. Toleration of auto-adjusting positive airways pressure compared to that of continuous positive airways in patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnoea or hypopnoea syndrome. Uses and evaluation of acoustic pharyngometry. Muscle weakness in patients with motor neuron disease. Evaluation of the effects of new non-smoking legislation on living function of bar workers.

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Institution: Trinity College Dublin Department: School of Mathematics Head of School: Professor Samson L. Shatashvili URL: http://www.maths.tcd.ie/research String Theory and Quantum Field Theory Lead researchers: Professor S Shatashvili, Professor A Gerasimov, S Cherkis, S Frolov, S Kovacs, O-K Kwon, C Lazaroiu, G Marmorini and C Saemann Research concentrates on the mathematical aspects of string theory and gauge theory with special emphasis on geometric problems and methods. The group works on a range of problems in the Donaldson and Seiberg-Witten theory, special geometry, string field theory, AdS/CFT correspondence and integrability, topological strings, topological and algebro-geometric aspects of Calabi-Yau compactifications, topological string field theory and algebraic homotopy theory; string-inspired problems in differential geometry which belong to the general area of hyperkahler and quaternionic geometry as well as the theory of twistor spaces. Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics Lead researchers: M Peardon, S M Ryan, S Sint, B Leder and B Oktay The group has strong interests in computer simulations of quantum field theories and statistical physics, with particular emphasis on lattice quantum chromodynamics. It works on topics such as: dynamical fermions with anisotropic lattices; static-light spectroscopy with dynamical fermions; flavour singlet spectroscopy; hadronic decays; quark discretisations on an anisotropic lattice.

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Institution: Trinity College Dublin Department: School of Physics Head of Department: Professor J Donegan URL: www.tcd.ie/Physics Semiconductor photonics (Professor J Donegan) Lead researchers: Professor J Donegan, Professor E McCabe, V Weldon, and L Bradley Microcavities Two photon absorption (TPA) in microcavities. Microspheres (quantum dot microlasers with a spherical dielectric microcavity for fibre-optic communications). Fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) between CdTe nanocrystals and dyes. Optical tweezing. Optical amplifiers Semiconductor amplifiers (change of the polarisation state in a semiconductor optical amplifier). Rare earth amplifiers (rare earth doped fibre). Diode lasers Self-pulsation (numerical modelling of self-pulsation in semiconductor lasers). Optical sensing (gas sensing using tuneable diode laser spectroscopy). Tuneable laser (the design of novel widely tuneable laser diodes). Confocal microscopy The use of novel aperture structures to develop high-resolution scanning confocal microscopy. Laser and plasma applications (Head of Group: Professor J Lunney) Laser ablation Understanding the nature of the laser absorption in the ablated material. Using a combination of theory and experiment to obtain a physical description of the expansion of the laser ablation plume in a vacuum. Providing a comprehensive description of the behaviour of a Langmuir probe in a supersonic plasma. Pulsed laser deposition Understanding the interaction of the ablation plume with the background gas. Developing a Langmuir probe and spectroscopic techniques for online deposition control. Preparing thin films of various magnetic oxides, dilute magnetic semiconductors and high-k dielectrics. Molecular electronics (Head of Group: Professor W Blau) Research focuses on production, characterisation, theory and electronic applications of organic polymers, nanotubes and polymer nanotube composites. Potential applications of these materials such as in displays using light-emitting diodes and field emission devices are also actively studied. In particular, investigations into individual organic molecules, which can be assembled to perform functions identical to transistors, diodes and conductors, are being carried out. Chemical physics of 1-D nanostructures (Head of Group: Professor J Coleman) Dispersion of nanotubes; electrical properties of nanostructured materials; mechanical properties of nanostructured materials; and inorganic nanowires.

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Electronic materials (Head of Group: R C Barklie) Characterisation of defects within high k dielectrics The further scaling down in the size of electronic circuits used in microprocessors will shortly require the replacement of SiO2 as the gate dielectric in silicon metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs); it will need to be replaced with a material with a higher dielectric constant, k, such as HfO2 or ZrO2. Since atomic defects in such materials or at their interface with silicon can degrade the device performance, it is important to characterise such defects with a view to reducing their population and this is the aim of this project. Magnetic properties of ferromagnetic thin films When the scaling limit of currently produced semiconductor microprocessors has been reached they may be replaced by devices which make use of the spin of the electron and such devices will contain thin ferromagnetic layers. It is therefore of interest to study the properties of such thin layers. In this project the technique of ferromagnetic resonance is used to determine some of the magnetic properties of such layers. Surface and interface physics (Head of Group: Professor J McGilp) Surface physics and epioptics Surface physics has made great advances in the last twenty years, with the development of new surface-sensitive probes. Fundamental studies of surfaces have led to important developments in related areas of applied science, such as semiconductor micro-electronics, thin films and corrosion science. In the last ten years, surface and interface optical techniques, epioptics, have advanced to the stage where unique information can be obtained about surfaces and interfaces. Epioptic techniques deliver the following: characterisation of all types of interface through transparent and semi-transparent media (solid-solid, solid-liquid, solid-gas, liquid-liquid, liquid-gas); atomic-scale resolution perpendicular to the surface or interface; sub-micron lateral resolution; femtosecond time resolution via pump-probe techniques; no significant material damage; no charging problems with insulating specimens. Lead researcher: Professor J McGilp Semiconductor surfaces Investigating the structural and electronic properties of semiconductor surfaces and interfaces, using synchrotron radiation and scanning probe techniques. Lead researcher: Professor I T McGovern X-ray spectroscopy (Head of Group: C McGuinness) Research involves the application of x-ray spectroscopic techniques to the investigation of the electronic structure of materials. These investigations use high-brightness synchrotron x-ray sources such as MAX-lab, the NSLS and the ALS. The techniques used are soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy (SXA), soft x-ray emission spectroscopy (SXE) and soft x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). These techniques reveal detailed information about the conduction band structure, the valence band structure and the core-level structure of the material respectively. Further through the use of resonant soft x-ray emission (RSXE) the low-energy electronic excitations can be directly probed and this is known as resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS). In addition the application of x-ray magnetic circular dichrosim (XMCD) to materials can probe on an element specific basis the orbital and spin components of magnetic moment within a material.

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Magnetism and spin electronics (Professor M Coey) Our research activities include: nanofabrication; half metallic oxides; spin electronics; permanent magnets; magnetic electrochemistry; and natural magnetic materials Nanomag research (Head of Group: Professor I V Shvets) The project is at the junction of nanotechnology, surface science and magnetism. Its aim is to study the fundamental properties of magnetic oxides, some of which (eg magnetite) are highly promising candidates for applications in spin electronics. The surfaces of these materials are quite complex making the project challenging. The focus is on studies of surfaces and interfaces of magnetic oxides. One of the first tasks of the project is the development of technology for epitaxial growth of films and multilayers of magnetic oxides and also thin film oxide tunnel barriers. The second point is the study of magnetic, structural and spin transport properties of these oxides and their interfaces. The end result of the project will be a demonstration that heterostructures of certain magnetic oxides can be used for spin electronics technologies. Foams and complex systems (Head of Group: S Hulzler) Lead researchers: Professor D Weaire, Professor P Richmond, and S Hutzler Foam structure, foam drainage, rheology, foam and art. Applying examples of complex systems such as fluids and materials to economics, finance and the social sciences. Electronic structure (Head of Group: C Patterson) Our work is focused on the electronic structure of doped metal oxides and development and application of many body methods to solids. Projects include: EXCITON (a code for GW and BSE calculations on solids); zinc cobalt oxide (hybrid density functional calculations on Zn1-xCoxO); manganites (electronic properties and crystal structure of La0.5Ca0.5MnO3); cuprates (polarons, stripes and ordering of holes on O sites). Computational spintronics (Head of Group: S Sanvito) Spintronics is the use of the spin of an electron as well as its electronic charge for electronic applications. The prototype of spintronics is the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect, in which the resistance of a magnetic multilayer changes when magnetic field is applied. Theoretical low-dimensional condensed matter physics (Head of Group: M Ferreira) Electronic properties of low-dimensional structures. Oscillatory interlayer exchange coupling in magnetic multilayers. Transport properties in magnetic metallic multilayers. Electronic properties of carbon nanotubes. Wave propagation in complex media (interdisciplinary).

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Astrophysics (Head of Group: B Espey) Lead researchers: B Espey, P Gallagher, and C Crowley We carry out research on an extensive range of areas, including: symbiotic stars; solar physics; space weather; active galactic nuclei (AGN); emission line diagnostics; and image processing and machine learning for astrophysics. Group members are also involved in a variety of European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA missions: Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO); Hubble Space Telescope (HST); STEREO; Hinode (Solar-B); Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), EUNIS; and SWAP/PROBA2. Environmental radiation (Head of Group: E C Finch) Ionising radiation in the environment gives rise to radiation doses both at the workplace and in the home. In recent years there has been increasing interest in the study of environmental radioactivity and in the routes by which it and other sources of radiation dose may have an influence on human health. Research is currently concentrated on the quantities of natural and artificial radioactivity in building and other materials in the Republic of Ireland, and the mechanisms by which these sources give rise to occupational and domestic radiation exposures. Facilities include a wide-energy hyperpure n-type germanium gamma-ray coaxial detector system, and work is performed in collaboration with other laboratories. Centre for research on adaptive nanostructures and nanodevices (CRANN) Bottom-up fabrication and testing of nanoscale integrated devices Nanochemistry; polymer templating; coupled cavity modes in photonic structures; adaptive nanowire devices; sensors on solid surfaces; and making waves (new redox-active molecular landers on a stepped cu(111) surface). Magnetic nanostructures and devices Spin currents; self-assembly on nanotemplated oxide surfaces; and control of ferromagnetism in a magnetic oxide field-effect transistor. Nanobiology of cell surface interactions Cells under strain; biophysical response of adult stem cells to strong magnetic field; and mechanical biosensors.

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Institution: University College Dublin Department: School of Physics Head of Department: Professor G O’Sullivan URL: www.ucd.ie/physics Atomic and molecular physics (Head of Group: Professor G O'Sullivan) Lead researchers: Professor G O'Sullivan, P Dunne, and E Sokell Spectroscopy of atoms and ions produced in laser generated plasmas. Development of laser plasmas as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light sources with emphasis on sources for EUV lithography. Spatial and temporal analysis of laser plasmas. Atomic structure calculations. Statistics of complex spectra. Synchrotron-based photoelectron spectroscopy. Experimental particle physics (Head of Group: Professor M Grunewald) Lead researchers: Professor M Grunewald and R McNulty Studies of the nature of matter at its most fundamental, with emphasis on the analysis of data recorded at particle accelerators reaching the highest possible center-of-mass energies. These include the D0 (D-Zero) experiments at Fermilab's Tevatron, and the forthcoming Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) and LHCb experiments at CERN's latest and most powerful machine, the new Large hadron collider (LHC). Beyond these core activities, we are exploring possible collaborations for experiments at a future linear collider, providing electron-positron collisions in the TeV energy range, and for experimental tests of general relativity, such as satellite-based searches for gravitational waves in space. High energy astrophysics (Head of Group: J Quinn) Lead researcher: J Quinn Detection and investigation of cosmic point sources of very energetic gamma radiation, using the atmospheric Cherenkov imaging technique. Studies of pulsars, supernova remnants, gamma-ray binary systems and supermassive black holes at the cores of active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Development and application of relevant state-of-the-art instrumentation including the VERITAS array. Radiation physics, radioecology and isotopic dating (Head of Group: Professor P Mitchell) Lead researchers: Professor P Mitchell and L León-Vintró Radiation physics and radioecological modelling, with emphasis on the speciation and mobility of transuranium nuclides in the environment. Stratigraphic dating of lacustrine sediments and soils. Development of high-sensitivity radiometric and radiochemical analysis techniques. Radiation protection, including safety of non-invasive imaging techniques. Radioactive waste storage and disposal. Nuclear test-site evaluation and rehabilitation. Retrospective climate change studies and the reconstruction of past environments utilising radioisotopic dating methods. Provision of a radio carbon-dating service to national and international researchers.

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Natural radioactivity and radon epidemiology (Head of Group: J McLaughlin) The Group is principally focused on the physics of radon and the health risk assessment of human exposure to elevated radon concentrations. Research projects: National study of population radiation doses from natural radioactivity. Development of radon and thoron detection and protection techniques. Retrospective assessment of population radon exposures and associated risks. Indoor climate and its health effects. Polonium-210. Space science and advanced materials (Head of Group: L Hanlon) Lead researcher: L Hanlon Spectral and temporal studies of cosmic gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), star-forming galaxies and active galactic nuclei using space-based and ground-based telescopes. Design and implementation of hardware and software for international space astronomy missions. Laboratory synthesis and characterisation of novel astromaterials. Blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies. Applied physics (Head of Group: E Ó Mongáin) Working on the design and application of solutions to environmental and industrial problems, often using remote sensing. The main areas of expertise are in: spectro-photometry and radiometry; satellite calibration and validation; airborne remote sensing; environmental monitoring; and ocean optics. We concentrate our activities on the spectroscopic analysis of absorption, reflectance, transmission, scattering and fluorescence. These can give us information on almost any field of human activity. The Group is also involved in all aspects of the remote sensing of ocean colour by satellite (Sea-Wifs) and aeroplane, from instrument design and construction to atmospheric modelling and data inversion. Field missions for ocean colour research have included projects in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Indian Ocean and Mediterranean. Recent and current research projects: air and sea quality; industrial process control; atmospheric modelling; ocean water constituent estimation; the monitoring of lakes through airborne spectrometry; toxin-producing algal strains using fluorescence; and absorption spectroscopy. Chemical biophysics (Head of Group: I Mercer) Ways are required to investigate the influence of the environment on signalling events and pathways, and to do so in the live cell without altering processes being watched. A programme is being initiated to advance and combine: multi-dimensional optical methods for both the temporal and spatial unravelling of live cell signalling and; quantum molecular-optical simulation for the interpretation of measurement and more rational future design. Cell signalling is the molecular mechanism whereby cells detect and respond to external stimuli and send messages to other cells. Improved understanding of cell signalling will lead to improved understanding of disease and the design of new pharmaceuticals. Our experience is in: quantum mechanical or molecular mechanical combined linear and nonlinear optical response protocols for simulation of large solvated enzymes and biomolecules; investigation of large solvated biomolecules through nonlinear photonics and laser development; resolution and contrast enhanced x-ray bio-imaging; next-generation industrial lithography through advance in laser driven sources; nanomaterials; and advanced laser development for industrial materials processing.

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Molecular biophysics (Head of Group: D Zerulla) Working towards a predictive physical understanding of biological processes and molecules. Pioneering new methods of investigation, advancing state-of-the-art materials, and laser-based methodology. Relating protein and cell structure, function and recognition. Relativity (Head of Group: Professor P Hogan) General Relativity (Einstein's Theory of Gravitation). Gravitational wave propagation in cosmology (modelling the stochastic gravitational wave background in the Universe). Singular null hypersurfaces in General Relativity (light-like signals from violent astrophysical events). Equations of motion and gravitational radiation profile of a small black hole moving in the gravitational field of a massive black hole. Condensed matter physics (Head of Group: H-B Braun) Areas of interest: nanoscale magnetism; spintronics; strongly-correlated electron systems; spin currents; macroscopic quantum phenomena; geometric quantum phases; solitons; chirality; statistical mechanics and phase transitions; neutron scattering and magnetism; condensed matter theory; and stochastic magnetisation dynamics. Institution: University College Dublin Department: School of Mathematical Sciences Head of Department: Professor S Dineen URL: http://mathsci.ucd.ie/cgi-bin/sms/frontpage.cgi Applied and computational mathematics Lead researcher: E A Cox Theoretical physics Lead researcher: Professor A C Ottewill Meteorology Lead researcher: Professor P Lynch Applied probability Lead researcher: Professor J V Pule

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Institution: National University of Ireland, Galway Department: Department of Mathematics Head of Department: Professor John Hinde URL: http://www.maths.nuigalway.ie Analysis Group Lead researchers: M Hayes, N Madden and R Ryan The group’s interests lie in topics such as: two-parameter problems and coupled systems – applications include modelling turbulence in wave-current interactions; tensor products, homogeneous polynomials and holomorphic functions on Banach spaces; finding solutions to fluid mechanics problems using lubrication and perturbation theory.

Institution: National University of Ireland, Galway Department: Department of Mathematical Physics Head of Department: Professor T Sherry URL: www.maths-physics.nuigalway.ie Applied mathematics With particular emphasis on the mathematics of diffusion, and the modelling and analysis of impurity diffusion mechanisms in semiconductors. Lead researcher: M Meere Computational atomic physics Electron-atom collisions and multiply excited states of two- and three-electron atomic systems. Excited states of an atomic system cause resonances in cross-section for electron scattering off the corresponding ion. Furthermore, these highly excited states are ideal systems for investigating the few-body Coulomb problem and for studying electron correlation. Lead researcher: M Ó Confhaola Wave propagation and the use of symbolic computation in mechanics Wave propagation in elastic and viscoelastic media. Lead researcher: P O’Leary Theoretical high-energy physics Unified gauge theories and renormalisation, supersymmetry, regularisation of quantum field theory models, classical solutions of quantum field theory models and B-physics phenomenology. Lead researcher: Professor T Sherry Theoretical physics and pure mathematics Theoretical physics includes: quantum field theory and conformal field theory. Pure

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mathematics includes: vertex operator algebras, the monster group and modular groups. Work also includes: generalised monstrous moonshine using methods in conformal field theory, and genus two and higher conformal field theory and vertex operator algebras. Lead researcher: M Tuite Wave propagation in various media Lead researcher: M McCarthy Institution: National University of Ireland, Galway Department: School of Physics Head of School : Professor T J Glynn URL: www.nuigalway.ie/physics/research_top.html LightHOUSE is a centre within the School which encompasses the activities of both the Applied Optics Group and the Lasers Group (NCLA). Applied optics (Head of Group: Professor C Dainty) Lead researchers: Professor C Dainty and N Devaney The Applied Optics research programme is centred on the fundamentals and applications of adaptive optics, a technology developed by astronomers to compensate for the deleterious effects of atmospheric turbulence in astronomical imaging. We are applying adaptive optics to the human eye, primarily to produce very high-resolution images of the retina in vivo and to other areas of biomedical optics.

Current projects include:

Adaptive optics in strong turbulence. Deep ultraviolet (UV) photolithography. Adaptive optics for enhanced vision. Polarisation sensitive confocal imaging. Measurement of macular pigment optical density. Modelling of dynamic ocular aberrations. High numerical aperture optics. Virtual wavefront sensor concept. Adaptive eye model. Observations and modelling of the eclipse shadow bands. Singular value decomposition of 3D imaging systems. Measurement of aberrations in the human eye. New approaches to multi-conjugate adaptive optics telescopes. An adaptive optics system for retinal imaging using a pyramid wavefront sensor. Visualising retinal phase structures. Optical characterisation of small, non-spherical particles. Understanding Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensing in the eye. Lasers (Head of Group: Professor T J Glynn) Lead researchers: Professor T J Glynn and G O’Connor The research programme is centred on the application of high-power lasers in materials processing, micro- and nanofabrication, nanoparticle generation, surface modification, and optical control/beam delivery techniques for high-resolution processing of advanced materials – silicon, polymers, ceramics, etc. The Group applies computational techniques to model the complex laser material interaction and diagnostic tools such as Langmuir probes, and high-speed imaging to study the

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laser plasma interaction in real time. The range of current projects include: Laser nanostructuring of material surfaces. Computational modelling of short pulse laser ablation of silicon. Computational modelling: short pulse laser nanostructuring on a metal surface. Zero-particulate laser-machining of medical devices in a clean manufacturing environment. Interactive beam delivery systems for advanced laser micromachining. High-efficiency removal of laser generated debris from IC wafer platforms. Automated laser manufacture of fused taper bi-conical fibre couplers. Surface activation of polymer materials. Femtosecond micromachining of metallic and semiconductor materials. Laser microcladding. Biomimetic surfaces for orthopaedic implants. Development of laser micro-engineering processes for enhanced via fabrication in drug delivery applications. Dynamic wavefront and temporal control of laser beams for laser material processing. Centre for Astronomy (Head of Group: M Redfern) Computational astrophysics Modelling of accretion processes in cataclysmic variables (CVs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) using a parallel smoothed particle hydrodynamics code (a mesh-free Lagrangian particle method). Modelling star formation and astrochemistry. The formation of Sun-like stars. Observing lines from molecules. Observing glowing dust. Astrochemistry and molecular astrophysics. Star destruction processes - supernova remnants and planetary nebulae. Modelling of megnetospheric processes in pulsars, brown dwarfs and planets. Lead researchers: M Redman and A Shearer Instrumentation and applied optics The research currently underway is wide ranging and consists of projects as diverse as 3D imaging of historical monuments and the study of chemical abundance within star clusters. Projects: Short-exposure imaging with adaptive optics. Virtual archive of incised stones in the Irish landscape. Observations and modelling of the eclipse shadow bands. Ultra high speed stokes polarimetry. Development of detectors for high time resolution astrophysics (HTRA). Design studies for HTRA instrument for a European extremely large telescope (ELT). Lead researcher: Professor M Redfern Observational astronomy Research is concentrated on the following topics: Stellar populations of star clusters, primarily the globular clusters of the Milky Way galaxy. Detection of extra-solar planets, or exo-planets, and measuring their properties. Optical observations of pulsars and optical transients such as RRATs. Multiwavelength studies of pulsations from ultra-cool brown dwarfs. Lead researchers: R Butler, A Shearer, and A Golden TeV γ-ray astronomy The Group is part of the VERITAS Gamma-Ray Collaboration (formerly the Whipple Gamma-Ray Collaboration) based at the Smithsonian Institution's Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory near Tucson, Arizona. We are involved in a search for point sources of TeV gamma rays. The Collaboration's successes to date include the detection of TeV gamma rays from the Crab Nebula, the active galactic nuclei Mrk421, Mrk501, H1426 428, 1ES2344 514, and 1ES1959 650, and TeV J2032 413, a source for which a counterpart has not yet been identified in other wavelength bands. Lead researchers: G Gillanders and M Lang

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Computational physics Computational physics in NUI, Galway covers three main areas: Simulations of physical phenomena including ablation studies of lasers, scattering properties of atmospheric aerosols and computational astrophysics. Development of code to exploit the latest high performance computing developments. Development of tools for the exploitation of large scale data sets. The Group will take part in national initiatives such as E-Psi and E-Inis under PRTLI4 as well as graduate schools programmes. Virtual observatories The growth in accessible data within the Virtual Observatory (VO) initiative has led to new challenges in scientific analysis, data management, computational throughput, and dissemination of results from massive archives. In order to choreograph scientific analysis and optimise the usage of data storage and processing resources across these archives, workflow methods are increasingly being employed. We are developing workflow systems to allow VO exploratory tools to be built with the WebCom-G workflow engine and the Open Run-Time Environment working in conjunction with other process management systems. Applications of these software systems to the analysis of existing large data sets from high time resolution astrophysics within the VO context will allow faster and more complete knowledge extraction from these studies. In turn this will allow a closer marriage of experimental and instrument design for future. Lead researchers: A Shearer and M Redman Atmospheric, environmental and aerosol physics (Head of Group: Professor G Jennings) Lead researchers: Professor G Jennings, C O’Dowd, M Byrne, and H Berresheim Microphysical and chemical properties of the atmospheric aerosol A wide range of aerosol particle-sizing and mass-measurement equipment is used to study the microphysical and physico-chemical properties of the atmospheric aerosol at the Mace Head atmospheric research station. Aerosol particle generation techniques are employed to produce both monodisperse and polydisperse particles (and droplets) in order to calibrate the field instrumentation. The field research work includes studies of aerosol volatility and microphysical characterisation of the atmospheric aerosol in many environments. The focus is presently on the aerosol nucleation and accumulation modes. Recent new research activities have related to identifying the composition of newly-formed nanoparticles. These techniques comprised novel pulse-height-analyser condensation particle counters in conjunction with differential mobility analysis or nucleation mode particles along with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis. Aerosol radiative properties Earlier work focused on analysis of the effect of the real and imaginary index of refraction and aerosol particle size distribution upon extinction, scattering and absorption in the atmosphere. Recent work involves the propagation of electromagnetic radiation through aerosol and cloud media in the laboratory, using visible and middle infrared wavelengths using a CO2 laser. The field research programme is focused on the measurement of black carbon absorption (and mass concentration). Seasonal and air mass influence on black carbon levels are being

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investigated. Measurements of aerosol scattering coefficient have recently been investigated. New particle formation New (secondary) particle formation in the coastal environment. New particle formation in the forest environment. Natural production of new particles over Europe. Primary particle formation over the ocean. Aerosol-cloud interactions Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) studies. Intensive field studies of aerosol-cloud interactions. Modelling of aerosol-cloud interactions and CCN production. Trace gas research Since 1987, continuous measurements of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): CFC-11, CFC-12, CH3CCl3, CFC-113, CCl4 and CH4, N2O, CO, and O3 have been made at Mace Head as part of the Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (GAGE). Measurement of CFC substitutes: HFCs and HCFCs by an automated gas chromatograph mass spectrometer was initiated in 1995. In addition, a flask sampling network for CH4 isotope measurements has been undertaken. Since 1992 a collaborative CO2 measurement programme has been underway. The work has been extended to include radon and CO2 isotope measurements. A trace gas (CO2 and isotopes) flask sampling programme has also been in operation at Mace Head since the late 1980s. Medical and radiation physics This is a cross-cutting theme with some research in all of the above areas contributing activities - biomedical optics, radiation modelling, biomimetic surfaces, and instrumentation for diagnostic bio-arrays. One staff member works exclusively on Monte Carlo simulations of radiotherapy treatments – in collaboration with the Medical Physics group in University College Hospital. The school is interested in growing this research area and invites interested parties to get in touch with M Foley. Occupational health and hygiene The emphasis is on the measurement of environmental and occupational hazards. A staff member in this area works closely with the Atmospheric Physics Group. Current focus is on the development of chemical control and containment designs – principally for the Pharmaceutical industry. The school contact is M Coggins.

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Institution: University of Limerick Department: Department of Physics Head of Department: Professor D Corcoran URL: www.ul.ie/~physics/index.htm Advanced metallisation and nanostructures (Head of Group: Professor D N Buckley) Electrodeposition has emerged as the method of choice for the deposition of advanced micro- and nanoscale copper metallisation for micro-electronics integrated circuits. We investigate the basic properties of electrodeposited copper metallisation. The work includes nanostructural characterisation using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) including in situ electrochemical STM with up to atomic resolution, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a variety of electroanalytical, electrical and spectroscopic measurements as well as deposition and micro-electronics fabrication techniques. Compound semiconductor materials and nanostructures (Head of Group: Professor D N Buckley) Compound semiconductors such as InP and GaN are the materials basis for many photonic and advanced micro-electronic devices. Periodic structures in these materials have possible applications in photonic bandgap devices for ultra-fast optical communications. We study nanoscale pore formation in compound semiconductors by means of electrochemical and photoelectrochemical etching and this has emerged as a very promising technique for tailoring the properties of semiconductors. Modulation of the pore diameter and direction could allow for the fabrication of devices based on photonic crystal structures. The work includes nanostructural characterisation using AFM and STM, high-resolution TEM and SEM, potential-dependant photoluminescence (PDPL) and a variety of electroanalytical, electrical and spectroscopic techniques as well as micro-electronics fabrication techniques. Nanostructured patterned materials and application (Head of Group: I Z Rahman) We are involved in investigation of template synthesis and self-assembly, and the nano-imprint process for the fabrication of nanopatterned arrays of nanostructured magnetic and other functional materials and nanocomposites. Their characterisation involves AFM and magnetic force microscopy (MFM), high-resolution TEM and SEM, x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), focused ion beam (FIB) secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and a variety of magnetic, electrical and mechanical measurements as well as modelling of magnetic materials. The group is aiming towards application of the fabricated materials in the area of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS), power converters, data storage, and processing. Current research projects are: The development of novel hybrid nanosystems using spinel and perovskite structured materials. Rare earth doped transition metal nanomagnetic wires. Multistage modelling using ab initio molecular dynamics and micromagnetics. Using an electrodeposition and sputtering technique, the group has fabricated arrays of transition metal nanowires and has performed a simulation of micromagnetic calculation.

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Focused ion beam (FIB) nanolithography (Head of Group: A Arshak) Semiconductor fabrication techniques are the key to the major advances in the current complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology and to realising new functional quantum devices such as single electron transistors. Various nanofabrication techniques using photons, electrons and ions have been investigated. Focused ion beam (FIB) technology is one of the most promising techniques for nanofabrication because of its distinct advantage of being a maskless process and in that it provides great flexibility and simplicity. Tribo physics (Head of Group: M Laugier) Research interests include: indentation fracture mechanics; surface engineering tribology (magnetic storage devices, copper metallisation, biomedical implants and cutting tools); surface and coating modification by ion implantation; and properties and microstructure relationships in WC-Co cutting tools, polymers, ceramics, and hard protective coatings. Biomedical optics (Head of Group: M J Leahy) Research is largely in the interaction of visible and infrared light with human tissues. Historically this has manifested in the development of instruments to measure blood flow (laser Doppler) and oxygenation (spectroscopy), which have found many applications due to the role of the microcirculation in all organs. More recently we have been developing a suite of instruments related to tissue viability and skin aging. The first of these, the ‘TiVi imager’ is just now becoming commercially available. It uses the technique of polarisation spectroscopy and a patented image analysis technique to provide an index of red blood cell concentration in the tissue. Microstructural devices (Head of Group: V Casey) Research interests include: micro-electromechanical structures and devices, particularly structures generated using soft-lithography techniques. We are specifically interested in using micromachined elastomer structures as primary sensing elements in biomedical (non-invasive) pressure sensors and as microgratings in Moire interference analysis of model mechanical structures such as hip prosthesis. Complex systems (Head of Group: D Corcoran) State-of-the-art electronic devices, sand and even plate tectonics are all systems where noise and disorder effects can dominate. Yet despite the discovery that methods developed for studying order phenomena in simple systems can be generalised to more complex forms of matter, the application of statistical mechanics to complex out-of-equilibrium systems is still today only in the development stage. We therefore investigate a broad spectrum of systems which exhibit ‘disorder dynamics’ including electromigration in thin metal films, earthquakes, and sheared granular media using experimental and computational modelling techniques. By borrowing the tools of statistical mechanics and by focusing explicitly on the role of fluctuations and noise, we are developing new approaches in describing, understanding and ultimately predicting complex disordered systems. We are exploring possible mechanisms that explain the wide variety of spatial and temporal fractals seen in nature ‘self-organised criticality’.

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Institution: National University of Ireland, Maynooth Department: Department of Experimental Physics Head of Department: Professor J A Murphy URL: http://physics.nuim.ie Far infrared and submillimetre astrophysics (Head of Group: Professor J A Murphy) Lead researchers: Professor J A Murphy, N Trappe, C O'Sullivan, V Yurchenko, and M Gradziel Far-infrared and submillimetre-wave astronomy is primarily concerned with making observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and with understanding processes that take place in the interstellar medium. Large ground-based telescopes have been developed over the last 15 years, while in the next decade, space facilities will be launched which will further enhance the importance of this wavelength range. The group collaborates in a number of ongoing international research programmes into the development of astronomical receivers. Our expertise lies in quasi-optical design and we are now heavily committed to a number of space programmes being run by the European Space Agency (ESA). We are actively participating in the Planck Surveyor satellite and the Herschel (formally FIRST) Space Telescope. These are both far-infrared deep space ESA missions due to be launched in 2007. The Planck Surveyor will probe the early Universe making sensitive measurements of CMB. For the Herschel space telescope we are involved in a spectral line system known as HiFi, which will observe interstellar gas. Recently we were invited to become members of a consortium of scientists led by Stanford University, Caltech and Cardiff to build a ground-based telescope facility known as QUEST. This will make measurements of the polarisation characteristics of CMB and complements our work on PLANCK. Experimental cosmology (Head of Group: Professor J A Murphy) Lead researchers: Professor J A Murphy, N Trappe, C O'Sullivan, V Yurchenko, and M Gradziel The group collaborates on Planck and QUEST, two international research projects to measure CMB radiation. The CMB has proven to be an invaluable tool for physicists working to constrain fundamental cosmological parameters. The latest generation of experiments aims to accurately map the extremely faint temperature and polarisation fluctuations imprinted on the CMB shortly after the Big Bang. The Planck Surveyor satellite is a far-infrared deep space ESA mission due to be launched in 2007. The unprecedented sensitivity of the Planck measurements will have a revolutionary impact on Cosmology. QUEST is a ground-based instrument which aims to map CMB polarisation. Our expertise is in the design of the telescope optics and feedhorns. Terahertz optics and technology (Head of Group: Professor J A Murphy) Lead researchers: Professor J A Murphy, N Trappe, C O'Sullivan, V Yurchenko, and M Gradziel The goal of this program is to continue to exploit our expertise in the theoretical foundations of long wavelength optics, while exploring new terahertz quasi-optical

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technologies. Terahertz technologies developed out of the success of extending microwave techniques to much higher frequencies to facilitate new generations of specialised space telescopes and atmospheric monitoring satellites for ozone and other chemical species. With the rapid development of novel sensitive detectors and sources over the last decade, terahertz technology is growing in importance, and new applications in medical physics and near-object analysis are being identified. There are also possibilities offered for wider bandwidth communications, far-infrared spectroscopy and secure communication systems. For example, at terahertz frequencies, ground level propagation limitations due to severe attenuation levels of 1000dB/km in the atmosphere (due to water vapour) can be made to be advantageous in secure inter-satellite and local network communication. Specifically, we envisage developing new terahertz quasi-optical devices and strategies for the frequency range between 0.3 THz to 10 THz. Science Foundation Ireland medical imaging (Head of Group: Professor J A Murphy) Lead researchers: Professor J A Murphy, C O'Sullivan, V Yurchenko, T Ward, and C Markham The field of optical design and analysis in the terahertz (THz) waveband suffers from a lack of dedicated simulation tools for modelling the unique range of electromagnetic and quasi-optical propagation conditions encountered in typical systems. Our research programme is addressing this need by developing analytical techniques and powerful dedicated CAD software. We are also investigating T-ray imaging systems, particularly with biomedical applications. Non-invasive imaging of tissue status and viability is a very useful and beneficial target in the field of biomedical science and clinical medicine. We design and manufacture a prototype imager using the software tools and techniques developed as part of this programme. Imaging with T-rays will complement research using near-infrared laser based systems already taking place here for analysing cognitive and other mental tasks in a project also involving MediaLab Europe. Ultimately the aim of the project is to develop a user friendly software environment that would allow non-experts to design efficient T-ray quasi-optical delivery systems. Experimental fluid dynamics (Head of Group: M F Cawley) The majority of fluids (liquids and gases) expand on heating over wide ranges of temperature and pressure. This behaviour is in accordance with our understanding of the behaviour of matter at a microscopic level (kinetic theory). However, the behaviour of water is anomalous in many respects; in particular, it exhibits a density maximum at 4 °C and at a pressure of one atmosphere. A variety of experimental and computational techniques are being used to investigate the behaviour of water undergoing free convection in the vicinity of its density maximum at 4 °C. The implications of the density anomaly on heat transfer across a region of cold water are also being investigated. Atomic and quantum physics (Head of Group: R O’Neill) Lead researchers: R O'Neill, P van der Burgt The group aims to improve current understanding of electron-atom interactions by undertaking technically challenging experiments that probe the behaviour of the simplest atom, hydrogen. Electron collisions with atoms are important in a variety of

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fields including plasma physics, astrophysics, atmospheric physics (planetary and stellar atmospheres, and interstellar clouds) and the physics of lasers. In attempting to master these diverse fields, it is crucial that we understand simple systems which can serve as the prototypes for understanding more complex situations. The electron-hydrogen atom collision system is unique in this regard since the hydrogen atom is the only atom whose quantum mechanical description is exact. Thus, the results of experiments with atomic hydrogen provide theory with its most stringent tests. Measurements are made of electron scattering from hydrogen using a ‘double rotation’ vacuum ultraviolet polarisation analyser. This device allows simultaneous determination of both the linear and circular polarisation properties of the light emitted in the decay of the excited 2p state of atomic hydrogen. This instrument thus provides a more complete and detailed description of the excited state than has previously been possible. In particular, we are aiming to answer the question of whether or not electron spin-exchange takes place to any significant degree in the electron scattering process. Cluster and laser physics (Head of Group: P van der Burgt) The purpose of this project is to look at electron and photon impact fragmentation of molecules and clusters that are of interest to plasma physics, atmospheric physics, biophysics and other fields. The experiment consists of a differentially pumped vacuum system, with an expansion chamber to generate a pulsed supersonic beam of molecules or clusters, and a collision chamber where the molecules or clusters are fragmented. In the collision chamber, the supersonic beam is crossed with an electron beam or a laser beam (or both) and the reaction products (ions and neutral metastable atoms) are detected. A reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer with a microchannel plate detector is used for the detection of ions. Neutral atoms, radicals and cluster fragment in metastable or high-lying Rydberg states are detected employing de-excitation at the surface of a microchannel plate detector, thereby releasing an electron from the conduction band of the surface. The technique is suitable for states with comparatively long lifetimes (t > 1ms), and with excitation energies larger than 8 eV (or 5 eV with specially prepared surfaces). Atmospheric physics (Head of Group: F J Mulligan) Research is concerned with the physics of the atmosphere at altitudes between 80 and 250 km, with particular emphasis on the region known as the mesopause (80-100 km). Ground-based measurements of atmospheric parameters are obtained from optical spectroscopic observations of nightglow emissions in both the visible and near-infrared. A Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, operating in the wavelength region 1.0-1.6 µm is used to record spectra of the Meinel OH bands which emanate from an altitude near 87 km. In addition, a wide-aperture Fabry-Perot interferometer is used to record spectral line profiles from the atomic oxygen lines present in nightglow. Spectra recorded by both instruments are analysed to derive the radiance of the emissions and the temperature, and neutral wind velocity in the atmosphere at the altitude of maximum emission.

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Institution: National University of Ireland, Maynooth Department: Department of Mathematical Physics Head of Department: Professor D M Heffernan URL: www.thphys.nuim.ie Nonlinear physics (Head of Group: Professor D M Heffernan) Nonlinear physics, in particular the study of classical and quantum chaos, nonlinear optics, low dimensional mesoscopic systems and the development of a statistical thermodynamic approach to phase transitions in dynamical systems. The development and utilisation of generalised dimensional and f(a) spectral techniques for the study of physical systems. Non-perturbative phenomena in gauge field theories (Head of Group: Professor T H Tchrakian) The study of non-perturbative phenomena in gauge field theories using semiclassical methods, employing instantons and sphalerons as well as solitons. Generalised Higgs and gauged sigma (Skyrme) models. Applications to mechanisms for baryon decay and for confinement. Quantum field theory and differential topology (Head of Group: Professor C Nash) Quantum field theory and the application of topology in physics. Topological methods are essential to the study of non-perturbative methods in quantum field theory. Of particular interest are combinatorial methods of constructing and calculating gauge theories. Quantum field theory, general relativity, and statistical mechanics (Head of Group: B Dolan) Quantum field theory and its use in elementary particle physics, condensed matter physics and statistical physics. Unified theories of high-energy physics and general relativity. Topological quantum computation (Head of Group: Dr J Vala) Quantum science is the study of nature at the smallest scales. From Schrodinger's famous cat thought experiment through to today's developments in quantum computing, quantum science yields constant fascination both to the novice and expert alike.

244

Index 3D nuclear rotation and beyond-mean-field

approaches, 147

A

Ab initio electronic structure calculations, 165

Ab-initio many-body theory, 169 Accelerator science, 68, 130 Accreting black holes, 142 Accretion in compact binary stars, 40 Accretion onto relativistic objects, 142 Accretion phenomena and associated

outflows, 142 Acoustics, 121 Acoustics and fluid dynamics, 183 Active galactic nuclei (AGN), 36, 40, 69,

139, 179 Active galaxies and starbursts, 51 Adaptive nanostructures and nanodevices,

229 Adaptive optics, 27 Advanced Along-Track Scanning

Radiometer, 57 Advanced instrumentation, 27 Advanced metallisation and

nanostructures, 238 Advanced Microscopy, Centre for, 134 Advanced numerical analysis, 136 Aerosol radiative properties, 236 Aerosol-cloud interactions, 236 ALEPH, 90 Aligned dust grains, 36 Amorphous semiconductors, 177 Analytical electron microscopy, 84 Anderson localization, 11, 114 Antihydrogen physics, 205 Applied and computational mathematics,

232 Applied historical astronomy, 27 Applied mathematics, 201, 233 Applied optics, 43, 192, 234 Applied probability, 232 Applied spectroscopy, 9 Approximation theory, 18 Archaeometry, 118 Art conservation science, 118 Asteroid dynamics, 85 Astrobiology, 43 Astrochemistry, 120, 199 Astrogrid Virtual Observatory, 132 Astronomical instrumentation, 124, 203 Astronomical spectroscopy, 27 Astronomical technology, 69 Astronomy, 5, 43, 85, 115, 120, 235 Astronomy and astrophysics, 27, 104, 139,

163, 179, 187, 221 Astronomy and cosmology, 154

Astronomy, astrophysics and atmospheric physics, 95

Astroparticle physics, 82 Astro-particle theory and cosmology, 139 Astrophysical discs, 13 Astrophysical dynamics, 36 Astrophysical plasmas, 77 Astrophysical simulation, 115 Astrophysics, 8, 13, 19, 32, 36, 40, 45, 51,

72, 80, 85, 99, 124, 212, 216, 218, 229 Astrophysics and planetary research, 43 Astrophysics and space research, 5 Astrosat, 59 ATLAS, 23, 47, 86, 90, 96, 129 Atmosphere-ocean dynamics, 13 Atmospheric and Instrumentation

Research, Centre for, 37 Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences,

Centre for, 4 Atmospheric dynamics and air quality, 37 Atmospheric parameters of stars, 40 Atmospheric physics, 78, 95, 242 Atmospheric science, 13 Atmospheric, environmental and aerosol

physics, 236 Atmospheric, oceanic and planetary

physics, 125 Atomic and molecular physics, 28, 230 Atomic and molecular processes in

interstellar media, 28 Atomic and quantum physics, 241 Atomic collisions in solids and ion beam

physics, 136 Atomic molecular and laser physics, 134 Atomic physics for astrophysics, 212 Atomic, mesoscopic and optical physics,

20 Atomic, molecular and laser physics, 97,

126, 205 Atomic, molecular and optical physics,

112, 212 Atomic, molecular and plasma physics,

121 Atomic, molecular, optical and positron

physics, 97 Atomistic materials modelling, 136 Atomistic Simulation Centre, 212 Atoms and molecules in intense laser

fields, 28 Atoms, beams and plasmas, 198 Auroral kilometric radiation, 196 Autism spectrum disorders, 123 Automated retinal disease identification,

176 Automated Underwater Vehicles (AUVs),

13

245

B

BaBar, 74, 86, 90, 164, 185 Bäcklund transformations, 50 Band structure engineering and materials

and device analysis, 150 Beyond the Standard Model, 145, 157 Binary star evolution, 163 Binary stars, 13, 120 Biocomputing, 105 Biointerfaces, 105 Biological and soft systems, 20 Biological evolution, 71 Biological materials, 173 Biological physics, 54, 105, 110, 152 Biological theoretical physics, 166 Biomarkers from medical images, 173 Biomaterials, 172 Biomechanics, 15 Biomechanics of the spine, 173 Biomedical applications, 34 Biomedical applications of NMR, 116 Biomedical electrochemistry, 33 Biomedical imaging, 33 Biomedical optics, 33, 76, 94, 176, 188,

239 Biomedical physics, 33 Biomedicine, 84 Biomolecular and chemical physics, 199 Bionanotechnology, 81 Bionanotechnology IRC, 131 Biophotonic microsystems, 144 Biophotonics, 80, 178 Biophysical complex fluids, 180 Biophysics, 15, 71, 80, 169 Biophysics and environmental physics,

224 Biophysics of cell membranes, 33 Biophysics of molecular motors, 127 Biophysics of the extracellular matrix, 33 Biophysics of the vasculature, 33 Biospectroscopy, 223 Birch-Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture, 7 Black hole evaporation, 167 Black holes, 63, 124 Bohigas-Giannoni-Schmit conjecture, 11 Bose gas, 14 Bose-Einstein condensates, 14 B-physics phenomenology, 145 Brane-world cosmology, 132 Breathers, 168 Brown dwarfs and extrasolar planets, 36 Bulk alloys and compounds, 52

C

Cahn–Hilliard equation, 18 Calabi-Yau compactifications, 16, 225 Calabi-Yau manifolds, 124 CALICE, 74, 90

Capillary dynamics, 14 Carbon dioxide sequestration, 13 Carbon nanotube quantum dots, 56 Carbon nanotubes, 48 Cassini space mission, 58, 85 Cataclysmic variables (CVs) and pulsating

white dwarfs, 142 CDF (Collider Detector at Fermilab), 96,

129 CEDAR, 96 Cellular and molecular biophysics, 66 Centre for Cold Matter, 76 Chaotic fluid dynamics, 173 Chaotic waves, 114 Charge transport in liquid crystals, 87 Chemical biophysics, 231 Chemical evolution of galaxies, 203 Chemical evolution of the galaxy, 36 Chemical physics and biomaterials, 136 Chemical physics of 1-D nanostructures,

226 Chemistry and nanotechnology, 136 Circumstellar and interstellar

environments, 95 Climate dynamics, 125 Climate extremes, 100 Climate variability, 13 Clinical measurement, 224 Cluster and laser physics, 242 Cluster and THEMIS space missions, 58 Cluster assembled materials, 56 COBRA, 164 Coding theory, 136 Cold-atom lattices, 73 Collective and multi-particle isomeric

states, 147 Collective quantum phenomena, 21 Collider phenomenology, 145 Collider physics, 6 Collision physics (plasmas), 121 Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) detector

at LHC, 8, 74 Compactification, 124 Complex eigenvalue correlations, 11 Complex fluids, 2, 14, 54 Complex network theory, 173 Complex systems, 73, 239 Complex systems in biology, 2 Complexity, 71 Composition and chemistry of the Earth’s

atmosphere, 57 Compound semiconductor materials and

nanostructures, 238 Computation nonlinear and quantum

optics, 198 Computational and mathematical

modelling, 172 Computational and theoretical nonlinear

optics, 2 Computational astrophysics, 179, 235

246

Computational atomic physics, 233 Computational biology, 15 Computational modelling, 172 Computational physics, 235 Computational spintronics, 228 Computer modelling of the atmosphere, 58 Concurrent Multi-AXis Differential Optical

Absorption Spectroscopy, 57 Condensed matter and nanoscale physics,

207 Condensed matter physics, 5, 29, 41, 52,

56, 66, 71, 99, 106, 110, 127, 180, 232 Condensed matter theory, 2, 21, 29, 48,

73, 102, 117, 127, 129, 139, 169 Condensed matter theory and quantum

information, 102 Condensed matter, materials physics and

spectroscopies, 160 Confocal microscopy, 226 Conformal field theories, 82, 192 Connection theory, 104 Constraining cosmological models, 154 Continence technology, 95 Continuum mechanics, 136, 218 Co-operative UK Twin Located Auroral

Sounding System, 58 Co-rotation, 13 Correlated electron systems, 9, 127 Correlated systems, 71 Cosmic microwave background, 132 Cosmic microwave background (CMB),

17, 19 Cosmology, 17, 63, 72, 79, 80, 85, 102,

124, 132, 179, 187 Cosmology and astroparticle physics, 48 Cosmology and galaxies, 124 Cosmology and intergalactic matter, 51 Couette flow, 13 Coupled ice-ocean processes, 13 CRESST and cryoEDM (electric dipole

moment of a neutron), 129 Critical Phenomena, 71 Cryptography, 7, 218 Crystallography, 127 Current sensing noise thermometry using

a dc SQUID, 91 Cyclotron applications, 5

D

Damage of DNA by UV light and low energy electrons, 121

Dark energy, 132 Dark Energy Survey, 132 Dark matter, 72, 115, 139, 140 Data-driven modelling, 173 Defects and disorder, 99 Defects and nanostructure in materials,

180 Defects in semiconductors, 81

DELPHI, 129 Density-functional theory, 169 DESY, 189 Detector and optical physics, 19 Detector development, 189 Detector physics, 100 Detector R&D, 74 Determination of parton distributions and

structure functions, 23 Diatomic molecules and hydrocarbons,

180 Dielectrophoretic separation of metallic

and semiconducting nanotubes, 87 Differential geometry, 218 Diffractive optics, 192 Diode lasers, 226 Directed graphs, 11 Discrete systems, 50 Discs around young and evolved stars, 51 Disordered media, 11 DØ experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron,

47, 74 Dominance of matter over anti-matter, 63 Duality of gauge theory and string theory,

31, 88 Dust in galaxies, 115 Dusty plasmas, 77 Dynamic magnetisation mapping, 170 Dynamical astronomy, 187 Dynamical systems, 18, 71 Dynamics of nearby galaxies, 115 Dynamo theory, 104

E

Early universe cosmology, 85, 132, 139, 154

Earth observation science, 57, 59, 78, 125 Eddy interactions, 13 Effective interactions and time-dependent

methods, 147 Elastodynamics, 114 Elastohydrodynamics, 15 Electric field measurement methods, 121 Electroceramics, 172 Electrodeposition, 9 Electromagnetic materials, 34 Electromagnetic theory, 76 Electron interactions with molecules, 121 Electron loss spectroscopy, 169 Electron microscopy, 9 Electron microscopy and surface analysis,

178 Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)

and diamond, 160 Electron scattering phenomena, 112 Electronegative plasmas, 121 Electronic and photonic materials, 195 Electronic and photonic molecular

materials, 139

247

Electronic materials, 227 Electronic structure, 21, 228 Electronic structure and dynamics, 2 Electronic structure of metal alloy and

semiconductor surfaces and interfaces, 66

Electronic structure simulations, 73 Electronic structure theory, 216 Electronic, optoelectronic and quantum

information device simulation, 150 Electrons and phonons, 35 Electrons in solids, 8 Electrons on helium for quantum

information processing, 91 Electrostatically confined quantum dots,

56 Elementary particle physics, 164 Elementary particle theory, 31, 129 Elliptic curve cryptography, 218 Elliptical galaxies, 132 Engineering materials, 136 Entanglement, 7, 167 Environmental optics, 199 Environmental physics, 134, 224 Environmental physics (spectroscopy),

121 Environmental radiation, 229 Environmental radiation monitoring, 184 Environmental sensing instrument

development, 134 Epitaxial phenomena, 73 E-science and GRID computing, 140 E-science Telescopes for Astronomical

Research, 69 Euler–Poisson equations, 18 European Incoherent SCATter facility, 58 European Network for Theoretical

Astroparticle Physics, 132 Exact renormalisation group, 145 Exotic nuclei, 184 Experimental applied optics, 136 Experimental atomic, molecular and

optical physics, and quantum optics, 155

Experimental condensed matter and nanoscience, 116

Experimental condensed matter physics, 46, 102

Experimental cosmology, 240 Experimental fluid dynamics, 241 Experimental high-energy physics, 140 Experimental nuclear physics, 64, 147,

195 Experimental particle physics, 47, 86, 108,

157, 230 Experimental solid state physics, 74 Experiments at the CERN Large Hadron

Collider, 74 Exploring the changing shell structure of

nuclei, 108

Extended fine structure spectroscopy, 56 Extra dimensions and gravity, 31 Extragalactic astronomy and cosmology,

27 Extragalactic astrophysics, 45 Extragalactic survey science, 154 Extrasolar planets, 13, 32, 85, 95, 163

F

Far infrared and submillimetre astrophysics, 240

Fast field-cycling, 175 Faulkes Telescope spectrographs, 59 Femtosecond laser interactions, 38 Femtosecond laser spectroscopy, 97 Femtosecond optics, 215 Ferroelectrics, 213 Ferroelectrics and crystallography, 160 Ferromagnetic nanostructures, 48 Fibre laser technology, 76 Field-effect transistors, 22 Fission fragment spectroscopy, 108 Flow of colloids and fluid mixtures, 180 Fluid dynamics, 168 Fluid mechanics, 233 Foams and complex systems, 228 Focused ion beam (FIB) nanolithography,

239 Fokker-Planck theory, 13 Forensic research, 43 Formation and evolution of galaxies, 115 Fracture and shock physics, 25 Free plasma boundaries, 121 Free-electron lasers and accelerator

research, 178 Free-energy landscapes, kinetics and

arrest, 180 Functional imaging, 123 Functional materials, 43, 136 Functional optical materials, 143 Fundamental atomic and molecular

interactions, 109 Fundamental photonics, 144 Fundamental properties of novae, 69 Fundaments of nonlinear dynamics, 173 Fusion, Space and Astrophysics, Centre

for, 163

G

Galaxies, 203 Galaxies and cosmology, 95 Galaxies and large-scale structure, 115 Galaxy evolution, 19 Galaxy formation and evolution, 36, 69,

132, 154 Gamma-ray bursts, 36, 69, 163

248

Gamma-ray spectroscopy with radioactive ion beams, 64

Gauge field theories, 63 Gauge theory, 225 Gauge-string duality, 88 Gauge-string duality and supersymmetric

gauge theories, 207 Gecko tape, 106 Gels and networks, 54 General Relativity, 17, 85, 124, 167, 218 GEO 600, 187 Geometric algebra, 19 Geometric numerical integration, 18 Geometrical aspects of physics, 216 Geometrical aspects of waves and

physical asymptotics, 8 Geophysical fluid dynamics laboratory,

125 Geophysics, 13 Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget, 57 Glass research and development, 195 Gluonic excitations, 191 Grand Unification (including gravity) and

dark matter, 63 Granular dynamics, 116 Granular flows, 13 Graphene and other two-dimensional

materials, 106 Gravitation, 139, 187, 218 Gravitational lensing, 104, 132 Gravitational physics, 202 Gravitational wave astrophysics and

general relativity, 72, 132 Gravitational Wave European Network,

132 Gravity-wave parameterization schemes,

13 GRID, 129 GRID development, 23, 189 GridPP project, 74, 90 Gross–Pitaevskii potentials, 18

H

H1, 86 Hadron physics, 147, 191 Hadronic decays, 16, 225 Hadronic spectra, 63 Hamiltonian systems, 104 Hamiltonian theory, 50 Heavy fermion systems,, 71 Heavy octupole nuclei, 64 Heliospheric physics, 78 Heterotic M-theory and superstrings,

conformal field theories, 88 High k dielectrics, 227 High redshift, 32 High-density QCD, 145 High-energy astrophysics, 27, 59, 142,

230

High-energy extragalactic astronomy, 142 High-energy limit of QCD, 23 High-energy particle physics, 8 High-energy physics, 16, 23, 63, 74, 96,

145 High-intensity laser-matter interactions,

126 High-performance computing, 28 High-pressure physics, 180 High-resolution non-invasive optical

imaging, 43 High-speed astrophysics, 163 High-spin gamma-ray spectroscopy and

heavy-ion radiative capture, 170 High-spin gamma-ray spectroscopy, and

the structure of exotic nuclei far from stability, 170

Holographic photopolymers, 223 Holomorphic functions, 233 Hubbard model, 71 Human radiation effects, 10 Hybrid nanoscale systems and their

applications, 3

I

Ices, 180 Imaging, 182 Imaging free radicals by MRI, 175 Imaging science and technology, 76 Implanted devices, 95 Impurities and defects, 35 Induced optical properties of carbon

single-walled nanotubes, 87 Inference, 21 information theory, 7 Infrared and submillimetre astronomy, 72 Infrared Atmospheric Sounding

Interferometer, 57 Inorganic semiconductors, 22 instantons, 168, 192 Instrumentation and applied optics, 235 Instrumentation and data analysis for high-

energy astrophysics, 142 Instrumentation for atmospheric science

and astronomy, 4 Integrable systems, 104 Integrablesystems, 124, 192 Integrated Photonics, 217 Intelligent telescopes, 32 Intense laser interaction studies, 198 Intense laser-matter interactions, 212 Interacting binary stars, high time-

resolution astrophysics and astronomical instrumentation, 139

International Linear Collider (ILC), 90, 130 Interstellar medium, 124 Interstellar medium, astrochemistry and

stellar evolution, 104 Inverse problems, 123

249

Ion beam analysis, 147 Ionising radiation imaging, 147 Ion-trap cavity quantum electrodynamics

(QED), 155 Ion-trap quantum technology, 155 Isospin symmetry and coulomb effects in

nuclei, 170

K

K-theory, 192

L

Laboratory astrochemistry, 121 Laboratory astrophysics, 77 Large Hadron Collider, 8, 16, 23, 129, 185,

189 Large-scale clustering in light nuclei, 170 Laser ablation, 226 Laser ablation simulation, 171 Laser ablation, patterning, and annealing,

38 Laser and plasma applications, 226 Laser Consortium, 76 Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave

Observatory (LIGO), 187 Laser materials interactions and laser

micromachining, 38 Laser plasma interactions, 77 Laser plasma research, 218 Laser spectroscopy, 215 Laser spectroscopy of radioactive

isotopes, 108 Laser-plasma interactions, 196 Lasers, 76, 109, 130, 143, 176, 194, 234 Lasers and photonics theory, 136 Lattice field theory, 16 Lattice gauge theory, 63, 207 Lattice quantum chromodynamics, 145,

225 Lattice-Boltzmann method, 183 Lax pairs, 50 L-functions, 7 Lie–Poisson flows, 18 Light and Bose-Einstein condensate

(BEC) shaping, 188 Light generation and manipulation, 144 Light scattering and radiative processes,

37 Light's momentum, 188 Linear collider, 23, 96 Linear Collider Flavour Identification

(LCFI), 8, 129 Linking mass and light in the Universe,

115 Liquid and amorphous materials, 3 Liquid crystals, 34, 53 Liquid helium, 35

Liquid state physics, 53 Liquid transport and porous media, 152 Liquids in confined geometries, 53 Low-dimensional semiconductors, 22, 169 Low-energy electron diffraction and

scanning tunnelling microscopy, 170 Low-energy positron physics, 205 Low-mass stars in clusters and

associations, 40 Low-temperature physics, 46, 91, 106

M

Machine vision, 92 Macromolecular dynamics, 54 Magma dykes, 13 Magnet development and applied

superconductivity, 127 Magnetic confinement fusion, 171 Magnetic levitation, 116 Magnetic materials, 34, 99, 169, 170 Magnetic nanoclusters, 56 Magnetic nanostructures and devices, 229 Magnetic properties of ferromagnetic thin

films, 227 Magnetic properties of solid 3He, 91 Magnetic resonance imaging, 94, 174 Magnetic resonance imaging and

spectroscopy, 116 Magnetic separation techniques, 143 Magnetic x-ray scattering, 160 Magnetism, 84, 213 Magnetism and nanoscience, 29 Magnetism and spin electronics, 228 Magnetism and superconductivity, 143 Magnetized plasmas, 85 Magneto-encephalography, 18 Magnetohydrodynamics, 13, 168 Magnetometry, 35 Magneto-optical spectroscopy and

imaging, 3 Magnetoresistance, 71 Magnetorotational, 13 Many-body theory in atomic physics, 212 Mapping the epoch of galaxy formation -

The UKIDSS Ultra-Deep Survey, 115 Mass measurements at GANIL, 64 Massive star formation, 36 Massive stars, 139 Massive stars and clusters, 95 Materials and molecular modelling, 81 Materials and plasma processing, 193 Materials at the nanoscale, 73 Materials modelling, 112 Materials physics, 201 Materials physics and applications, 103 Materials physics and spectroscopies, 160 Materials processes, 45 Materials science, 45, 136 Mathematical biology, 15, 104

250

Mathematical finance, 218 Mathematical physics, 48, 63, 71, 104,

124, 192 Matter propagation, 82 Measurements Of Pollution In The

Troposphere, 57 Medical and biological physics, 166 Medical and biophysics, 177 Medical and materials imaging, 118 Medical and radiation physics, 5, 236 Medical biophysics, 173 Medical image computation, 94 Medical imaging, 241 Medical microwave applications, 4 Medical physics, 4, 121, 147, 191 Medical ultrasound, 223 Mesoscopic physics, 106 Mesoscopic superconductivity, 106 Mesoscopic superconductivity and

advanced magnetism, 92 Metal surfaces, oxide formation and

nanoparticles, 66 Metamaterials, 34, 150 Meteorology, 232 Methods of theoretical physics, 102 Metrology and optical sensing, 222 MHD turbulence, 13 Michaelson Interferometer for Passive

Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS), 57 Micro- and nanostructural materials, 9 Microcavities, 141, 226 Microelectronics, 22 Microelectronics and advanced materials,

177 Microlensing, 69, 187 Micromanipulation, 182 Microphysical and chemical properties of

the atmospheric aerosol, 236 Microscale sensors, 195 Microscopy, 160 Microstructural devices, 239 Microstructure, 25 Microwave thermography, 190 Mid-infrared optoelectronics, 46, 141 Mind-matter unification project, 21 MINOS, 23, 96 Mixed molecular systems, 180 Mixing, 14 Modelling of Earth’s atmosphere, 125 Models of the atmospheres of other

planets, 125 Molecular and atomic spectroscopy, 78 Molecular and macromolecular materials,

139 Molecular and materials physics, 87 Molecular and nanophysics, 53 Molecular and optical science, 182 Molecular astrophysics, 51 Molecular beam epitaxy growth of metal

superlattices, alloys and films, 127

Molecular biophysics, 232 Molecular dynamics and ab initio

modelling, 43 Molecular electronic materials and

devices, 74 Molecular electronics, 226 Molecular materials, 222 Molecular modelling, 80 Molecular physics, 5, 180 Molecular simulation, 165 Monopoles, 168 Monte Carlo simulations of high-energy

collisions, 23 Mössbauer spectroscopy, 216 MRI in heart disease, 174 MRI in neurology, 174 MRI in oncology, 174 MRI Instrumentation, 174 M-theory, string theory and related areas

of mathematics, 88 Multifractality, 114 Muon Ionisation Cooling Experiment, 74 Musical acoustics, 202

N

NA48, 185 Nanobiology of cell surface interactions,

229 NANOCASE, 56 Nanocharacterisation, 189 Nanocomposites and multi-phase

polymeric materials, 54 Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS),

116 Nanomag research, 228 Nanomagnetic materials and devices, 189 Nanomagnetism, 66 Nanomaterial engineering, 139 Nanomechanics, 84 Nanomechanics and disorder, 73 Nano-optical microscopy, 81 Nano-optics, 106, 193 Nanoparticle synthesis, 81 Nanoparticles and nanowires, 53 Nanophotonics, 143 Nanophotonics and plasmonics, 74 Nanophysics, 9, 150, 170, 202 Nanophysics and nanotechnology, 92 Nanophysics and soft matter, 9 Nanophysics and surfaces, 222 Nanoscale and surface physics, 66 Nanoscale integrated devices, 229 Nanoscale physics, 5, 127 Nanoscience, 3, 29, 116, 135, 199 Nanoscience and materials, 35, 133 NANOSPIN, 56 Nanospintronics, 22 Nanostructure assembly and quantum

confinement, 66

251

Nanostructured media, 213 Nanostructured patterned materials and

application, 238 Nanostructured polymeric systems, 133 Nanotechnology, 3, 81 NASA Kepler satellite, 85 Natural radioactivity and radon

epidemiology, 231 Near infrared surveys, 72 Nearby galaxies, 179 Near-field optics, 213 NEMO, 96 Networks and agents in physics and

ecology, 180 Neurophysiology, 95 Neuroscience and education, 123 Neutrino astrophysics, 140 Neutrino factory, 130, 164 Neutrino mass, 205 Neutrino physics, 140 Neutrino programme, 74, 129 Neutron rich nuclei, 64 Neutron scattering, 102 New particle formation, 236 New soft materials, 180 NMR using dc SQUIDS, 91 Non-commutative geometry, 124, 192 Non-equilibrium phase transitions, 180 Non-equilibrium statistical mechanics, 11 Nonlinear and liquid crystal physics, 107 Nonlinear biodynamics, 150 Nonlinear dynamical systems, 71 Nonlinear dynamics and chaos, 46, 173 Nonlinear optical, dynamics and

complexity, 193 Nonlinear physics, 243 Nonlinearity and self-organisation, 165 Non-locality, 7 Non-perturbative phenomena in gauge

field theories, 243 Nova explosions, 40 Novel materials, 45 Novel materials and structures, 180 Novel MRI techniques, 175 Novel nanomaterials and interfaces, 152 Novel plasma sources for surface

treatments, 121 Novel semiconductor materials, 22 Nuclear and particle physics, 110 Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Centre for,

147 Nuclear astrophysics, 170, 184 Nuclear instrumentation developments

and current projects, 64 Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 116 Nuclear physics, 6, 64, 108, 170, 184, 191 Nuclear reactions, 170 Nuclear shape coexistence, 64 Nuclei at the extremes of angular

momentum, 64

Nucleon-nucleon correlations, 191 Numerical analysis, 18, 136 Numerical modelling and image

reconstruction, 33 Numerical simulation of star formation, 32 Numerical simulations of structure

formation, 154

O

Observational astronomy, 235 Observational astronomy and cosmology,

80, 118, 204 Observational constraints on galaxy

formation and evolution, 36 Observational high-energy astrophysics,

142 Observational star formation, 32 Observations of close binary stars, 40 Occupational health and hygiene, 236 One-dimensional quantum systems, 71 OPAL and NA48, 23 Open chaotic systems, 11 Open clusters and the distance scale, 69 Ophthalmic imaging group, 176 Ophthalmic instrumentation, 176, 223 Optical amplifiers, 226 Optical and IR observations, 32 Optical diagnostic methods for non-

invasive analysis of blood, 134 Optical fibres, 50, 144 Optical gas detection, 188 Optical interconnects, 193 Optical interferometry, 19 Optical materials, 144 Optical networks and systems, 144 Optical science laboratory, 95 Optical sensors, 219 Optical spectroscopy, 35 Optical tweezers, 97, 188 Optical waveguide modelling, 221 Optics, 2, 188, 198 Optics and displays, 118 Optoelectronics, 22, 144, 202 Optoelectronics and nonlinear dynamics,

215 Optoelectronics and photonics, 178 Optoelectronics, sensing and optical

components, 43 Organic devices and solar cells, 2 Organic electroactive materials, 29 Organic light-emitting diodes, 87 Organic semiconductors, 99, 127 Organophotonics, 38 Origin of mass, 63 Origin of planets and satellites, 85

252

P

Painlevé equations, 104 Parametric plasma instabilities, 171 Particle acceleration processes, 196 Particle cosmology, 132, 157 Particle image velocimetry, 183 Particle instruments and diagnostics, 37 Particle physics, 6, 16, 63, 90, 108, 124,

129, 168, 185 Particle physics and cosmology, 145 Particle physics and particle astrophysics,

140 Particle physics experiment, 189 Particle physics theory, 189 Particle theory, 117 Particle theory and phenomenology, 139 Particle-laden flows, 13 Pattern formation, 18 Perturbation theory, 233 Phase diagram of quantum

chromodynamics, 157 Phenomenology, 31 Phonon-mediated x-ray detectors, 46 Photon physics, 109 Photonic and semiconducting materials,

29 Photonic crystal fibres, 2 Photonic crystals, 141 Photonic structures, 141 Photonic systems, 215 Photonics, 73, 76, 150, 198, 200 Photonics and photonic materials, 2 Photonics in nature, 34 Photonics, sensors and materials, 29 Photonuclear reactions, 184 Physical chemistry, 133 Physical oceanography, 125 Physics education, 122, 219 Physics near the proton drip line, 147 Physics of human perception, 33 Pipe-organ mechanical actions, 183 Planar bilayer membranes and protein-

protein interactions, 53 Planck satellite, 17 Planet formation, 13 Planetary accretion, 85 Planetary aeronomy, 78 Planetary atmospheres, 13 Planetary auroral observations, 58 Planetary data analysis, 125 Planetary fluid dynamics, 85 Planetary magnetospheric physics, 78 Planetary rings, 51, 85 Planetary science, 59, 100, 120 Planetary science and star formation, 169 Plasma ignition / breakdown, 121 Plasma measurements, applications to

monitoring and control, 121

Plasma physics, 77, 171, 196, 198, 213, 216, 219

Plasma processes, in astrophysics and in fusion, 165

Plasma theory, 187 Plasma theory and fluid dynamics, 136 Plasmonics, 34 Plasmonics, metamaterials and near-field

microscopy, 2 Poisson brackets, 50 Polar oceans, 13 Polydevices, 22 Polymer fluid dynamics, 133 Polymer semiconductors, 22 Polymer synthesis, 133 Polymer theory, 133 Polymers, 84, 134, 139 Polymers and complex fluids, 54 Populations of x-ray binaries and other

compact objects in galaxies, 142 Porous media, 13 Porous silicon, 2 Positron emission tomography, 175 Positron imaging, 5 Positron physics, 97 Preparation of novel oxide sol-gels and

glasses, 43 Primordial perturbations, 132 Propagating cracks, 14 Properties of nuclear isomers, 108 Proton rich nuclei, 64 Pulsars, 104 Pulsed laser deposition, 226 Pyroclastic surges, 13

Q

QCD at extreme temperature and density, 207

QCD lattice simulations, 11 QCD resummation, 23 Quantum and atom optics theory, 169 Quantum and gravitational physics, 173 Quantum and nonlinear optics, 126 Quantum chaos, 7, 11, 71 Quantum chromodynamics, 11, 189, 207 Quantum control, 143 Quantum cryptography, 16 Quantum devices and magnetic materials,

3 Quantum dots, 71, 141 Quantum dynamics and quantum chaos,

97 Quantum electron dynamics and quantum

computing, 92 Quantum field theories, 16, 63, 79, 104,

192, 225 Quantum field theory and differential

topology, 243

253

Quantum field theory, general relativity, and statistical mechanics, 243

Quantum fluids, 14 Quantum foundations and gravity, 79 Quantum gases and collective

phenomena, 20 Quantum graphs, 114 Quantum gravity, 63, 82, 157, 167, 192,

207 Quantum information, 7, 8, 16, 37, 55, 84,

97, 102, 114, 126, 131, 167, 169 Quantum integrable systems, 50 Quantum magnetism, 71 Quantum magnetism and magnetic

multilayers, 66 Quantum matter, 21 Quantum measurement theory, 167 Quantum mechanics, 102, 167 Quantum mechanics and photonic

crystals, 2 Quantum nanostructures, 3 Quantum optics, 217 Quantum optics and cold atoms, 20, 193 Quantum optics and laser science, 76 Quantum optics and mesoscopic systems,

20 Quantum optics, mesoscopics and

quantum information, 110 Quantum optoelectronics, 20, 127, 143 Quantum ordering, 180 Quantum phase transitions in complex

metals, 91 Quantum phases of matter, 73 Quantum phenomena in nanostructures,

117 Quantum physics, 168 Quantum processes (optics), 121 Quantum spectra, 71 Quantum statistics, 114 Quantum stochastics, 114 Quantum structures and phase transitions,

103 Quantum tagging, 16 Quantum theory, 114, 124 Quantum theory of semiconductor

nanostructures, 56 Quantum transport, 35 Quantum transport in disordered systems

and quantum dynamics, 165 Quantum transport in semiconductors, 189 Quantum wires, 71 Quantum, light and matter, 143 Quasicrystal surfaces, 66 Quaternionic geometry, 225

R

Radiation and medical physics, 147 Radiation biophysics, 5 Radiation detectors and materials, 147

Radiation physics, 94 Radiation physics, radioecology and

isotopic dating, 230 Radio and space plasma physics, 58 Radio astronomy, 187 Radio galaxies, groups and clusters, 36 Radio telescopes, the next generation, 36 Random walk models, 104 Random matrix theory, 7, 11, 71, 114 Rapidly rotating stars, 85 Rare-earth metal surfaces, 66 Rayleigh-Taylor instability, 14 Reactions and structures of exotic nuclei,

147 Reflection Anisotropy Spectroscopy

(RAS), 66 Relativistic perturbation theory, 132 Relativistic quantum field theory, 48 Relativistic theory of condensed matter, 43 Relativity, 232 Relativity and gravitation, 216 Remote sensing of aircraft emissions, 134 Renormalisation group and quantum field

theory, 157 Renormalization group, 71 RF coils for high-field MRI, 174 Rheophysics, 180 Riemann-Hilbert problem, 11 Riemann–Hilbert techniques, 18 Robonet, 69 Runaways and hyper-velocity stars, 36

S

Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric CHartographY, 57

Scanning near-field optical microscopy, 80 Scanning probes, 213 Schrödinger equation, 18 ScotGRID / GridPP, 185 Sea ice topography, 13 Seabed acoustics, 4 Secondary ion mass spectrometry, 160 Self-assembled monolayers, 53 Self-assembled quantum dots, 56 Self-assembly processes at surfaces, 53 Self-organisation, 71 Semiconducting materials, 160 Semiconductor nanostructures, 92 Semiconductor photonics, 226 Semiconductor physics, 25, 141, 194 Semiconductor physics and

optoelectronics, 74 Semiconductor spectroscopy, 220 Semiconductor spectroscopy and devices,

199 Semiconductor surfaces, 227 Semiconductors, 116 Sensor platforms, 220

254

Sensors and acoustics, 119 Shell breaking and cluster structures, 147 Signal processing, 92 Silicon strip detectors, 184 Silicon-based nanostructures, 2 Simple liquids, 133 Single molecule spectroscopy of gene

machines, 127 Single-Photon counting, 193 Skyrmions, 16 Slow positron spectroscopy, 3 Small-world networks, 11 Soft condensed matter and biological

physics experiment, 180 Soft condensed matter and biophysics,

165 Soft matter physics, 9, 21, 38, 56, 119,

152 Solar and stellar physics, 85, 100 Solar corona, 196 Solar flares, 196 Solar magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), 196 Solar physics, 13, 45, 78, 187 Solar plasmas, 104 Solar prominences, 196 Solar seismology, 5 Solar system, 43, 85, 139, 201 Solar system dynamics, 85 Solar terrestrial physics, 78 Solar wind, 85 Solar-system bodies, 13 Sol-gels and glasses, characterisation

using X-ray and neutron scattering, 43 Solid 3He and helium clusters, 91 Solid mechanics, 14 Solid state and materials, 172 Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance,

160 Solid state physics, 46, 81, 189 Solid state research facilities, 102 Solidification dynamics, 14 Solid-state NMR of biological materials,

166 Solitary waves, 14 Solitons, 16, 18, 50, 168, 192 Space and atmospheric physics, 78 Space environment physics, 142 Space instrumentation, 125 Space Magnetometer Laboratory, 78 Space missions, 43 Space Plasma Exploration by Active

Radar, 58 Space plasma physics, 100, 196 Space projects and instruments, 59 Space science and advanced materials,

231 Space-based gravitational-wave detector

LISA, 187 Spectroscopy, 182

Spectroscopy of magnetic thin films and multi-layers, 170

Spectroscopy of semiconductors, 109 Spectroscopy of superheavy nuclei, 64 Spin chains, 71 Spin electronics, 71 Spin glasses, 192 Spintronics, 143, 169 Spintronics and magnetic nanostructures,

52 Spray technology, 136 Square Kilometre Array, 104 Stäckel systems, 50 Standard model, 124 Star and planet formation, 51 Star clusters and star formation, 139 Star formation, 19, 69, 120, 179, 203, 218 Star formation and astrochemistry, 95 Stars, supernovae and circumstellar

matter, 72 Statistical mechanics, 104, 192 Statistical mechanics and computational

materials physics, 180 Statistical physics, 71, 110, 117 Statistical science, 212 Statistical, liquid state and soft matter

physics, 8 Stellar astronomy, 179 Stellar astrophysics, 45, 124, 187 Stellar convection, 85 Stellar dynamics, 40 Stellar ecology, 40 Stellar hydrodynamics and nuclear

astrophysics, 40 Stellar population modelling, 69 Stellar research, 104 Stellar winds and galactic superwinds, 51 Stratified fluids, 14 Stratospheric dynamics, 13 Stress analysis, 136 String cosmology, 132 String theory, 16, 17, 63, 124, 157, 192,

225 String theory and its relation with gauge

theories and particle physics, 88 String theory and M-theory, 79 String theory, supersymmetric gauge

theories and their interrelations, 88 Strings and branes, 145 Strongly-correlated electron systems, 91,

103 Structural analysis and functional

properties, 136 Structural ceramics, glasses and glass

ceramics, 160 Structure and dynamics of solids and

liquids, 169 Structure and evolution of nearby galaxy

haloes, 36 Structured substrates, 213

255

Structures and phase transitions, 99 Structures for optics, 25 Studies in food safety, 121 Study of surfaces and structures, 109 Sub-atomic movements of magnetic

domain walls, 106 Submillimetre-wave instrumentation, 19 Sunspots, 196 Superconducting nanostructures, 48 superconducting quantum interference

devices, 174 Superconducting single-photon detectors,

194 Superconductivity, 29, 84 Superconductivity and magnetism, 160 Superconductivity, magnetism and

nanomagnetism and spintronics, 74 Superfluid 4He, 46 Supergravity, 17 Superheavy nucleus stability and

isomerism, 147 Supermanifolds, 104 Supermassive black holes with adaptive

optics, 36 SuperNEMO, 74 Supernova neutrinos and dark matter, 184 Supersymmetry, 16, 82 Surface and interface science, 25, 66,

160, 227 Surface and nanoscale physics, 103 Surface physics and epioptics, 227 Surface physics and microthermal

analysis, 46 Surfaces and interfaces, 99, 220 Surfaces, microstructures and fracture, 25 Swift, 59 Systems biology, 173

T

T2K, 47, 86, 164 Tailored surfaces, 66 Targeted therapies using nanoparticles, 56 Teaching methods and public

understanding of science, 119 Terahertz (THz) physics, 29, 34, 127, 172,

240 Terahertz vision, 92 TeV gamma-ray astronomy, 51, 235 The Jodrell Bank Observatory, 104 Theoretical accelerator physics, 31 Theoretical and computational physics,

165 Theoretical astrophysics, 60, 101, 129,

142 Theoretical atomic and molecular

collisions, 112 Theoretical cosmology, 80 Theoretical extragalactic astrophysics and

cosmology, 124

Theoretical high energy physics, 23 Theoretical high-energy physics, 233 Theoretical low-dimensional condensed

matter physics, 228 Theoretical modelling, 45 Theoretical molecular physics, 97 Theoretical nuclear physics, 147 Theoretical particle physics, 108, 157, 207 Theoretical physics, 6, 8, 39, 48, 79, 82,

88, 110, 129, 194, 232 Theoretical physics and pure

mathematics, 233 Theoretical quantum optics and cold atom

physics, 155 Theoretical quantum physics, 37 Theoretical solid mechanics, 136 Theoretical studies, 58 Theoretical studies of cold atoms, 205 Theory and advanced computation, 150 Theory and modelling and Applied

mathematics, 136 Theory and quantum systems, 20 Theory and simulation of materials, 73 Theory of everything, 189 Theory of magnetically confined plasmas,

171 Thermopower measurements at low

temperatures, 92 Thin film magnetism and materials, 26 Thin film research, 84, 195 Time variable astronomy, 69 Tissue modelling and imaging methods,

166 Tokamak research, 77 Tonehole undercutting, 183 Topological quantum computation, 243 Toxicology of manufactured nanoparticles,

56 Trace gas research, 236 Transport, magnetic and optical

properties, 35 Tribo physics, 239 Tropopause, 13 Turbulence, 14, 104, 168, 183, 233 Twistor spaces, 225 Twistor theory, 124 Two-dimensional quantum fluids and

solids, 91 Two-parameter problems, 233

U

UHE (ultra high energy) neutrinos, 96 Ultracold atomic and molecular physics,

28, 97, 117, 205 Ultracold matter, 126 Ultracold quantum gases, 217 Ultrafast atomic and molecular physics,

205 Ultrafast lasers and optics, 112, 178, 194

256

Ultrafast optoelectronics and spintronics, 150

Ultrafast phenomena, 34 Ultrafast physics, 199 Ultrafast science, 3 Ultra-high energy cosmic rays, 51 Ultra-intense laser nuclear and plasma

studies, 198 Ultra-low temperature physics and nuclear

magnetic resonance (NMR), 116 Ultra-low-temperature physics, 46 Ultrasonics, 160 Ultra-thin metallic films, 92 Underwater acoustics and remote sensing,

4

V

Very high energy gamma-ray astronomy, 27

Vibrating lips, 183 Vibrodynamics, 168 Virtual observatories, 235 Vishik-Lyusternik method, 168 Vision and signal processing, 92 Vision sciences, 223

W

Wave propagation and the use of symbolic computation in mechanics, 233

Wave theory, 14 Weak interaction corrections, 145 White dwarfs, 36 Wide angle search for planets, 40 Wide field X-ray telescope, 59

X

XEUS, 59 X-ray and neutron diffraction, isotopic

difference methods, x-ray absorption, 43

X-ray and neutron scattering, 127 X-ray and observational astronomy, 61 X-ray astronomy and high-energy

astrophysics, 72 X-ray binary systems, 142 X-ray crystallography, 169 x-ray diffraction of electrochemical

systems, 66 X-ray microprobes, 80 X-ray nanocollimator, 92 X-ray physics, 82 X-ray scattering and magnetism, 29 X-ray scattering in plasmas and laboratory

astrophysics, 171 X-ray spectroscopy, 227 X-rays, 180

Y

Yang-Baxter relations, 104 Yang-Mills theory, 16 Young stellar objects and their

environments, 36

Z

ZEUS, 96, 129, 189 Z-pinch, 77

257

Acronyms AATSR - Advanced Along-Track Scanning Radiometer ACBAR - Arcminute Cosmology Bolometer Array Receiver ACORNE - Acoustic Cosmic Ray Neutrino Experiment AES - Auger electron spectroscopy AFM - Atomic force microscope AGB - Asymptotic Giant Branch AGN - Active galactic nuclei ALMA - Atacama Large Millimetre Array ASD - Autism spectrum disorders ASK - Auroral Structure and Kinetics BaSTI - Bag of Stellar Tricks and Isochrones BCDs - Blue compact dwarf BCS - Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer BEC - Bose-Einstein condensate BIEs - Boundary integral equations BiSON - Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network BSM - Beyond the Standard Model CALICE - CAlorimeter for the LInear Collider Experiment CARMs - Cyclotron autoresonance masers CCD - Charge Coupled Device CCDs - Charge-coupled devices CCI - The Commonwealth Cosmology Initiative CCM - Coupled cluster method CCN - Cloud condensation nuclei CDF - Collider Detector at Fermilab CDM - Cold dark matter CELS - Centre for Effective Learning in Science CFCs - Chlorofluorocarbons CIRS - Composite Infrared Spectrometer CLCs - Calamitic liquid crystals CMAX-DOAS - Concurrent Multi-AXis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy CMB - Cosmic microwave background CMEs - Coronal mass ejections CMOS - Complementary metal oxide semiconductor CMS - Compact Muon Solenoid COBRA - Cadmium-TellurideO-neutrino double-Beta Research Apparatus CP - Charge-parity CPA - Coherent Potential Approximation CTD - Central Tracking Detector CV - Cataclysmic variable CVD - Chemical vapour deposition CVs - Cataclysmic variables CW - Continuous wave DLCs - Discotic liquid crystals ECM - Extracellular matrix EDM - Electric dipole moment EDS - Energy dispersion spectroscopy EDX - Energy dispersive x-ray EEG - Electroencephalography EELS - Electron energy loss spectroscopy EISCAT - European Incoherent SCATter facility EIT - Electromagnetically induced transparency

258

ELM - Edge localised mode ELMS - Energy Loss and Multiple Scattering ELT - Extremely large telescope ELTs - Extremely Large Telescopes EMC - Electromagnetic calorimeter EMF - Electric and magnetic field EMT - Electromagnetic trigger EOS - The Earth observing system EPR - Electron paramagnetic resonance ESA - European Space Agency ESO - European Southern Observatory ESR - Electron spin resonance eSTAR - e-Science Telescopes for Astronomical Research EUV - Extreme ultraviolet EXAFS - Extended X-ray absorption fine structure FDTD - Finite-difference time-domain FES - Functional electrical stimulation FETs - Field-effect transistors FFC - Fast field-cycling FIB - Focused ion beam FLC - Future linear collider FLIM - Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy fMRI - Functional magnetic resonance imaging FONT - Feedback On Nanosecond Timescales FQHE - Fractional quantum Hall effect FRAP - Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching FRET - Fluorescence resonance energy transfer FTIR - Fourier transform infrared GAGE - Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment GEMS - Group Evolution Multiwavelength Survey GERB - Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget GMR - Giant magneto resistance GRBs - Gamma-ray bursts H.E.S.S. - High Energy Stereoscopic System HARP - Heterodyne Array Receiver Programme HIRDLS - High-Resolution InfraRed Dynamics Limb Sounder HMXRBs - High mass x-ray binaries HST - Hubble Space Telescope HTRA - High time resolution astrophysics HTS - High-temperature superconductor IASI - Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer IBIC - Ion beam induced current IGM - Intergalactic medium ILC - International Linear Collider ILIAS - Integrated Large Infrastructures for Astroparticle Science ILL- The Institut Laue-Langevin IPPP - Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology IR - Infrared IRC - Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration ISM - Interstellar medium ISO - Infrared Space Observatory JBO - Jodrell Bank Observatory JCMT - James Clerk Maxwell Telescope JET - Joint European Torus J-PEX - Joint Astrophysical Plasmadynamic Experiment

259

KATRIN - KArlsruhe TRItium Neutrino experiment LB - Langmuir-Blodgett LCFI - Linear Collider Flavour Identification LCG - Large Computing Grid LCN - London Centre for Nanotechnology LEDs - Light emitting diodes LEED - Low-energy electron diffraction LEP - Large Electron Position collider LHC - Large Hadron collider LiCAS - Linear Collider Alignment and Survey LIGO - Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory LISA - Laser Interferometer Space Antenna LMC - Large Magellanic Clouds LOFAR - Low Frequency ARray LFRA - Low frequency radio astronomy LPAC - London Planck Analysis Centre LPE - Liquid phase epitaxy MASK - Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak MBE - Molecular beam epitaxy MCP - Microchannel plate MD - Molecular dynamics MEG - Magnetoencephalography MEMS - Microlectromechanical systems MFM - Magnetic force microscopy MHD - Magneto hydrodynamics MICE - Muon Ionisation Cooling Experiment microTAS - Micro total analysis systems MIDEX - Medium-class Explorer MINOS - Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search MIPAS - Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding MIXS - Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer MOPITT - Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere MOSFETs - Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors MRI - Magnetic resonance imaging MRS - Magnetic resonance spectroscopy NASA - National aeronautics and space administration NEMO - Neutrino Ettore Majorana Observatory NEMS - Nano-electromechanical systems NEXAFS - Near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure NMR - Nuclear magnetic resonance NRA - Nuclear reactions analysis NSOM - Near-field scanning optical microscope OCT - Optical coherence tomography OLEDs - Organic light-emitting diodes OMAM - Optical manipulation and metrology OPO - Optical parametric oscillator PCF - Photonic crystal fibre PCFs - Photonic crystal fibres PDPL - Potential-dependant photoluminescence PECVD - Plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition PEDRI - Proton-electron double-resonance imaging PET - Positron emission tomography PICs - Photonic integrated circuits PICT - Projected image computed tomography PIXE - Proton induced x-ray emission

260

PLD - Pulsed laser deposition PMMA - Polymethylmethacrylate QC - Quantum cascade QCD - Quantum chromodynamics QCDOC - QCD on-a-chip QCLs - Quantum cascade lasers QCMs - Quartz crystal microbalances QED - Quantum electrodynamics QFT - Quantum field theory QSO - Quasi-stellar objects RAL - Rutherford Appleton Laboratory RAS - Reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy RAVE - The RAdial Velocity Experiment RF - Radio frequency RHIC - Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider RICH - Ring Imaging CHerenkov RIXS - Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering RMT = Random Matrix Theory RoboNet -Robotic network of telescopes RSXE - Resonant soft x-ray emission SAMs - Self-assembled monolayers SANS - Small-angle neutron scattering SAWs - Surface acoustic waves SCT - Semiconductor Tracker SCUBA - Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array SDO - Solar Dynamics Observatory SDSS - SLOAN Digital Sky Survey SE - Spectroscopic ellipsometry SEM -Scanning electron microscopy SERS - Surface enhanced Raman scattering SHADES - Sub-mm Half Square Degree Extragalactic Survey SHEEP - Search for the High Energy Extragalactic Population ShFM - Shear force microscopy SIF - Spectrographic Imaging Facility SIMS - Secondary ion mass spectrometry SKA - Square Kilometre Array SNOM - Scanning near-field optical microscopy SOHO - Solar and heliospheric observatory SPEAR - Space Plasma Exploration by Active Radar SPIRE - Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver SPM - Scanning probe microscopy STAGES - Space Telescope A901/902 Galaxy Evolution Survey STEM - Scanning transition electron microscope STEP - Satellite Test of Equivalence Principle STM - Scanning tunnelling microscope SUSY GUTs - Supersymmetric Grand Unified Theories SUSY - Supersymmetry SWIRE - Spitzer Wide-area InfraRed Extragalactic Survey SWNTs - Single-walled nanotubes SXA - Soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy SXE - Soft x-ray emission spectroscopy TDS - Thermal diffuse scattering TEM - Transmission electron microscope TES - Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer THINGS - The HI nearby galaxy survey

261

THz - Terahertz TPA - Two photon absorption UHE - Ultra high energy UHV - Ultra-high vacuum UKAFF - UK Astrophysical Fluids Facility UKDMC - UK Dark Matter Collaboration UKIDSS - UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey ULXs - Ultra-luminous x-ray sources UV - Ultraviolet (VCSEL)-Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser VECSEL - Vertical-external cavity surface-emitting laser VECSELs - Vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers VHE - Very high energy VISTA - Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy VLT -Very Large Telescope VO -Virtual Observatory VSA -Very Small Array VUV - Vacuum ultraviolet WASP - Wide Angle Search for Planets WIMPs - Weakly interacting massive particles WMAP - Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe WMD - Weapons of Mass Destruction XANES - X-ray absorption near edge structure XCS - X-ray Cluster Survey XEUS - X-ray Evolving Universe Spectrometer XMCD - X-ray magnetic circular dichrosim XMM - X-ray Multi Mirror XPS - X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy XRBs - X-ray binaries or X-ray binary systems XRD - X-ray diffraction

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