InstituteQ Colloquium: J.C. Séamus Davis

When: 14:00, 19.10.2023
Where: Konetekniikka 1, Hall 216, Aalto University

The subject of Professor J.C. Séamus Davis’s talk is “Visualizing Quantum Matter.”

Guest speaker

J.C. Séamus Davis is a Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford, as well as Professor of Quantum Physics at University College Cork, and Professor of Physics Emeritus at Cornell University. Davis is also a Senior Fellow at Wadham College at the University of Oxford. The subject material of his research has included topological superconductors, quantum and classical spin liquids, monopole fluids and insulators, and the development of a quantum microscope, just to name a few.

From Professor Davis: What will your talk discuss?

“Everything around us, everything each of us has ever experienced, and virtually everything underpinning our technological society and economy is governed by quantum mechanics. Yet this most fundamental physical theory of nature often feels as if it is a set of somewhat eerie and counterintuitive ideas of no direct relevance to our lives. Why is this? One reason is that we cannot perceive the strangeness (and astonishing beauty) of the quantum mechanical phenomena all around us by using our own senses.

“I will describe the history of development of techniques that allow us to visualize electronic quantum phenomena directly at the atomic scale. As recent examples, we will visually explore the previously unseen and very beautiful forms of quantum matter making up electronic liquid crystals, high temperature superconductors, and electron-pair crystals. I will discuss the implications for fundamental physics research and also for advanced materials and new technologies, arising from quantum matter visualization.”

The event is free to attend for all. Please sign up via the Webropol registration form.

Please note that the event is on-site only and will not be recorded.