I am a condensed matter physicist working to develop the theory and understanding of quantum phenomena exhibited by various nano-scale solid-state systems. My research group aims to understand the fundamental properties of these systems and use this foundation to build models to design new devices and applications. Our current research includes, but is not limited to, work in the following themes:
The electronic properties of van der Waals heterostructures
These are materials which comprise stacks of different two-dimensional materials (such as graphene). The electronic properties of these stacks are highly tuneable either by modifying the 2D materials that comprise the stack, or by changing the relative orientation of the layers. They enable the exploration of new quantum phenomena and have the exciting potential for new devices and applications.
Recent research includes:
- Theory of inter-layer tunnelling of Dirac fermions
- Magnon and phonon assisted tunnelling in van der Waals devices
- Magneto-transport in monolayer graphene - out-of-equilibrium and phonon effects
- Ab-initio calculations via density functional theory of electronic properties
Also see the following news articles:
High-frequency electronics
We are developing devices which have potential as new sources and detectors of high-frequency (GHz-THz) electromagnetic radiation. We couple our quantum-mechanical simulations with effective circuits to provide accurate simulation of these devices.
Recent research includes:
- Prediction and analysis of GHz current oscillations van der Waals heterostructures
- Chaos-control of high-frequency electron dynamics in superlattices
- Theory of acoustic wave induced transport in semiconductor nanostructures and van der Waals heterostructures
Read the article: 'Light from sound' could spot cancers and terrorists
I completed my PhD at the University of Nottingham in 2010 and soon after was awarded funding for a Knowledge Transfer Secondment with e2v technologies.
In 2013 I was awarded an Early Career Leverhulme Fellowship and I started at Loughborough University in October 2016 as a Vice-Chancellor's research fellow.
Postdocs
- Dr Joseph Page
PhD students (past and present)
- James Wilson (current - primary supervisor)
- Jordan Harknett (current - co-supervisor)
- Lewis Burke (current - co-supervisor)
- Dr Joseph Page (graduated 2022)
- Programme Director for BSc and MPhys Physics programmes (since October 2021)
- Landau research seminar series (2017-2021)