Hydrodynamic theory of transport in condensed matter physics
Presented by Dr. Andrew Lucas, Stanford University
July 27, 2017875 N. Randolph Street, Arlington, VA Room 400312:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Abstract: Although measuring the resistivity of a metal is one of the easiest experiments to do in condensed matter physics, computing the resistivity of a metal with strongly correlated electrons remains an outstanding theoretical challenge, with many experimental mysteries that have defied explanation for decades. Remarkably, many of these phenomena are consistent with the hydrodynamic flow of a (quantum) fluid of electrons. For all but the simplest materials, however, this fluid is described by more complicated equations than textbook Navier-Stokes equations.
In this talk, Dr. Lucas will overview when correlated electrons in metals exhibit hydrodynamic behavior. He will explain how he and his team have seen hydrodynamic electron flow in experiments on ultrapure crystals in the past two years. He will then turn to recent theoretical developments, focusing on a theory of hydrodynamics for 'complicated' metals. Using this theory, he and his team predict an electrical resistivity which is qualitatively similar to many correlated materials. He will conclude the talk by discussing possible directions for research on electronic hydrodynamics in both pure and applied physics.
Bio: Dr. Andrew Lucas is a Gordon and Betty Moore postdoctoral fellow in the physics department at Stanford University with broad interests in theoretical physics. His current focus is the theory of transport and dynamics in many-body quantum systems. He received his BS in physics from Stanford in 2012, and a PhD in physics under Subir Sachdev at Harvard in 2016. Work during graduate school was partially funded by a MURI grant from ARO.
This invitation-only lecture is presented jointly through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Development, OASD(R&E) Basic Research Office Forum and AFOSR Horizons Lecture Series. Please contact AFOSR Information for details. info@us.af.mil; tel 703 588 0198.