Strong Electron Correlations and Quantum Critical Phenomena

非技术总结该奖项支持强相互作用电子物质领域的理论研究和教育活动。推动这项研究的关键问题是表现出高温超导电性的材料的物理学。这些材料是在1987年发现的，当冷却到比“常规”超导体所需温度高得多的临界温度以下时，它们导电而不会有任何功率损失。尽管它们的发现已经过去了近30年，但人们对这些高温超导体还没有明确的了解。问题是，这些材料的物理需要解决理论物理和数学中一些关键的悬而未决的问题。这个项目中讨论的研究活动集中在其中的一些问题上，着眼于对新的超导材料进行预测。PI和他的研究团队将解决与高温超导体相关的模型，旨在解开电子在进入超导阶段之前会做什么的长期谜团。这个奖项将支持寻求理论固体物理博士学位的研究生。此外，PI将1)继续招收伊利诺伊大学物理学研究生项目中未被充分代表的少数族裔学生，2)通过向当地公立和私立学校提供初级物理演示来提高科学素养，以及3)继续在发展中国家的大学进行关于强耦合系统的公开讲座。技术总结该奖项支持强相互作用电子物质领域的理论研究和教育活动。推动这项研究的关键问题是表现出高温超导电性的材料的物理学。这些材料驻留在参数空间中，而场论中的传统微扰方法不适用于参数空间。为了解决这个问题，PI和他的研究团队将使用弦理论中新开发的方法来弥合微扰方法失败的地方和强耦合物理之间的差距。具体的目标是：1)解释铜氧化物超导体中的幂律光学电导，2)建立正常态下费米弧的模型，3)寻找强耦合不动点问题的解，4)提出存在费米弧的超导电性的现实模型，5)发展无序存在的强耦合系统的计算工具。该奖项将支持研究生攻读理论固体物理学博士学位。此外，PI将1)继续为伊利诺伊大学物理学研究生项目招收未被充分代表的少数族裔学生，2)通过向当地公立和私立学校提供初级物理演示来提高科学素养，以及3)继续在发展中国家的大学进行关于强耦合系统的公开讲座。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis award supports theoretical research and educational activities in the area of strongly interacting electron matter. The key problem motivating this study is the physics of materials exhibiting high temperature superconductivity. These materials, which were discovered in 1987, conduct electricity without any power loss when cooled below a critical temperature which is much larger than temperatures required for "conventional" superconductors. Even though close to 3 decades has passed since their discovery, no clear understanding of these high-temperature superconductors has emerged. The problem is that the physics of these materials requires the solution to some of the key unsolved problems in theoretical physics and mathematics. The research activity discussed in this project focuses on some of these problems with an eye for making predictions for new superconducting materials. The PI and his research team will solve models that are relevant to high temperature superconductors and geared toward unlocking the long-standing puzzle of what the electrons do before they enter the superconducting phase.This award will support graduate students seeking their PhD degrees in theoretical solid state physics. In addition, the PI will 1) continue with his recruitment activities of underrepresented minority students to the graduate program in physics at the University of Illinois, 2) enhance scientific literacy by giving elementary physics demonstrations to local public and private schools, and 3) continue with his public lectures on strongly coupled systems at universities in developing countries.TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis award supports theoretical research and educational activities in the area of strongly interacting electron matter. The key problem motivating this study is the physics of materials exhibiting high temperature superconductivity. These materials reside in parameter space where traditional perturbative methods in field theory fail. To solve this problem, the PI and his research team will use newly developed methods in string theory to bridge the gap between where perturbative methods fail and strong coupling physics resides. The specific goals are 1) to provide an explanation for the power-law optical conductivity in the copper-oxide superconductors, 2) to develop a model for Fermi arcs in the normal state, 3) to find a solution to the problem of strongly coupled fixed points, 4) to propose a realistic model for superconductivity in the presence of Fermi arcs and 5) to develop computational tools for strongly coupled systems in the presence of disorder. This award will support graduate students seeking their PhD degrees in theoretical solid state physics. In addition, the PI will 1) continue with his recruitment activities of underrepresented minority students to the graduate program in physics at the University of Illinois, 2) enhance scientific literacy by giving elementary physics demonstrations to local public and private schools, and 3) continue with his public lectures on strongly coupled systems at universities in developing countries.