Group leader
A. Alexandradinata is an analytical expert on wave function geometry and
topology. He has experience in discovering
new topological phases of matter, and applying wave function geometry to
experimental phenomenology. Lately, he has been developing a
wave function approach to
harvesting light, with the goal of developing a topological solar cell.
Group openings
Why choose condensed matter theory in Santa Cruz
Condensed matter theory in the University of California Santa Cruz is
represented by Profs. Aris Alexandradinata (myself),
Sriram Shastry,
Sergey Syzranov, with
strengths in strongly correlated and topological quantum matter,
disordered systems, and mesoscopics.
Research interests include the development of a new paradigm for
topological metals/insulators, finding their material realizations, and
identifying their unique phenomenology (e.g., electromagnetic
quantum/semiclassical effects), with an eye toward device applications in
sustainable technologies (e.g., photovoltaics). Other possible research
directions include the interplay of topological matter with new forms of
magnetism and high-magnetic-field superconductivity, electron
hydrodynamics in solid-state systems, transport in high-temperature
superconductors, and the physics of quantum spin liquids.
Students/postdocs will have the opportunity to collaborate with
theoretical materials chemist
Yuan Ping
and condensed-matter experimental groups led by
David Lederman,
Arthur Ramirez,
Jairo Velasco, and Aiming Yan, in the
investigation of topological quantum and correlated materials. In
addition, the
Santa Cruz Materials Center
offers further opportunities for inter-departmental collaborations between
condensed-matter physicists and materials chemists.
Santa Cruz is a picturesque town on the coast of the Pacific Ocean,
blessed with eternal spring-like weather, beautiful beaches,
surf-world-renowned waves, and redwood-forested mountains. Hiking,
biking, surfing, ocean swimming and general nature-loving are common
past-times, not just for local residents but for a substantial
proportion of Californians in the bay area. The town is within driving
distance to the
world's best aquarium, Silicon Valley and several renowned Universities (Stanford, Berkeley,
UC Santa Barbara), making UCSC ideal for collaborations with other
Condensed Matter groups, and for having a constant stream of renowned
seminar/colloquium speakers.
Interested?
My group has openings for undergraduate students, graduate students and
postdocs. I recommend to look through my
research interests and find some overlap with
your own interests; subsequently, please email a research statement and
C.V. to aalexan6 at ucsc dot edu.
Current graduate student
Wahaj Ayub
is broadly interested in studying topological and strongly correlated
quantum materials, employing techniques from geometry and topology. As
part of the group, he hopes to advance the current understanding of
phenomena such as optoelectronic effects in quantum matter, particularly
for photovoltaic applications. He is currently working on the topological
photovoltaics of Hopf insulators.
Previous graduate student
Aleksandra Nelson:
PhD thesis
on "Delicate Topological Insulators: a New World of Phases between Trivial
and Fragile" (co-supervised by Tomas Bzdusek); subsequent position as a
postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Theoretical Biophysics at Rice
University.
Previous postdocs/project scientists
Pavlo Sukhachov: (assistant project scientist in 2023-4,
subsequently moved on to a faculty job at the University of Missouri in
2024). His research focuses on topological and quantum materials,
including Dirac-Weyl materials, electron hydrodynamics, unconventional
superconductors, mesoscopic contacts, and nonlinear optical responses of
out-of-equilibrium systems.