Simon Davenport

In Plain English

My current research focuses on the discovery and understanding of what are known as "topological phases of matter". For an accessible and fun video description of the general topic area I direct you to a research feature that appeared in "phd comics" (and for the really keen, a general review article discussing what this really means and what these things are potentially good for can be found here). My phd thesis was on the topic of the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE): this is a classic example of a topological phase. In my current position I work on the problem of trying to engineer similar physical properties in a highly controlled laboratory environment provided by of "ultra-cold atomic gases".

Topological phases are, more often than not, challenging to study --- requiring strong quantum mechanical correlations that are often only accessible under extreme conditions e.g. of low temperature and low dimensionality --- what motives me is the potential for the discovery of fundamentally new (and often strange) ways in which matter can behave. Far down the line the hope is that we shall be able to utilise this enhanced fundamental understanding to engineer new technologies that go far beyond what is possible with today's technology.