Day 2 :
Keynote Forum
Michael W Roth
Northern Kentucky University, USA
Keynote: Exploration of intermediate phases of matter on surfaces
Time : 08:45-09:15
Biography:
Michael W Roth is a Computational Physicist, Professor and Chair at Northern Kentucky University’s Department of Physics, Geology and Engineering Technology. He has numerous publications and presentations in the field of dynamics and surface phase transitions of atomic and molecular systems adsorbed onto graphene and graphite. Other interests include classical astrophysical simulations of planetary formation as well as material point method simulations of impact, and material stress and failure.
Abstract:
As computing power has advanced over the last 20 years, we have been able to use molecular dynamics computer simulations to better understand the phase transitions exhibited by various molecules adsorbed onto surfaces. In particular, great advances have been made in understanding the nematic and smectic crystal phases that exist in between solid and liquid phases of organic layers. The means of characterizing these fascinating phases of matter and the mechanisms that drive associated phase transitions will be discussed, followed by extensions to current work on more complex organic layers. Finally, the current trajectory of large scale computing along with a computational wish list will be discussed. Throughout the talk there will be anecdotes from our research group that will give context to various elements of the work presented here.
Keynote Forum
C S Ting
University of Houston, USA
Keynote: Topological phase transitions and a two-dimensional Weyl superconductor in a superconductor/half-metal heterostructure
Time : 09:15-09:45
Biography:
C S Ting is a Professor of Physics at the University of Houston, USA. His major research area has been on theoretical condensed matter physics including transport theories in various solid state systems, superconductivity in copper oxide materials and iron pnictides, magnetism, metal-insulator transition, electronic property of graphene, solids with the spin-orbit couplings and strongly correlated electron systems. He is the Principal Investigator of Theory at the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston, and a Fellow of APS in the Division of Condensed Matter Physics.
Abstract:
We find a series of topological phase transitions in s-wave superconductor/half-metal thin-film heterostructure, by tuning the direction of the magnetization of the half-metal film. The heterostructure is grown on top of a semiconductor. The function of the semiconductor surface is to provide a Rashba spin-orbit coupling to charge carriers in the half-metal film where the superconductivity could be induced via the proximity effect from the superconducting film. Employing numerical and analytic methods, we explore the novel physics in the half-metal film and its edge states, these include transitions from a topological superconducting phase with a bulk gap to another phase without a bulk gap, but has a ubiquitous local gap which implies only parts of the Fermi surface being gaped. At the same time, the edge states change from counter-propagating Majorana edge modes to unidirectional Majorana edge modes. In addition, we find transitions between the second phase and a nodal phase which turns out to be a two-dimensional Weyl superconductor with Fermi line edge states. We identify the topological invariants relevant to each phase and the symmetry that protects the Weyl superconductivity. Experiments to detect these phases are going to be proposed. The physics with a d-wave superconducting film in the heterostructure will also be discussed.