Theoretical physicists in Cambridge are building mathematical models to predict how matter behaves, from single molecules to complex biological systems. Their work addresses a fundamental gap: we cannot yet fully explain or predict the collective behaviours that emerge when many atoms or molecules interact—phenomena like magnetism, superfluidity, or how proteins fold. Without these models, progress in designing new materials, drugs, or quantum devices remains largely trial and error. The group develops computational tools that calculate material properties from first principles, and creates simplified models to reveal the underlying physics of complex systems. This is fundamental science with no immediate commercial application. However, similar theoretical work in the past—such as the quantum mechanics that enabled transistors—transformed everyday technology. A deeper understanding of emergent behaviour could eventually underpin advances in semiconductor design, energy storage, or medical diagnostics, by giving engineers and chemists reliable predictions rather than educated guesses.
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As theoreticians, we construct models of physical and chemical processes that are generally inspired by experimental discoveries, we generalise these models and their solutions to make predictions for new experiments, and we transfer the concepts and theoretical tools which emerge from the solution of these models to other areas of research, in a concerted interdisciplinary effort. In short, the role of theory is to understand known phenomena observed in the laboratory or in everyday life, and to predict new physical processes and phenomena. Our theoretical research is both about making calculations, to quantitatively understand and predict the behaviour of matter, but also about making models to illuminate the landscape of emergent behaviour in physics, chemistry, material science, and biology. The role of theory includes both fundamental knowledge creation and practical applications of modelling for new and existing technology. The applications of our activity are as various as ultracold atoms, semiconductor devices and biological function. Starting from first principles on the microscopic level (as embodied in the Schrödinger equation) electronic, mechanical and structural properties of molecules and materials can now be calculated with a remarkable degree of accuracy. We work on developing and refining new computational tools and applying them to a broad spectrum of fundamental and applied problems in physics, chemistry, materials science and, particularly at present, in biology. Solids and fluids often show unusual collective behaviour resulting from cooperative quantum or classical phenomena. For such phenomena a more model-based approach is often appropriate, and we are using such methods to attack problems in magnetism, superfluidity, nonlinear optics, mesoscopic systems, complex fluids and solids, and bio-polymers. Collective behaviour comes even more to the fore in systems on a larger scale. As examples, we work on self-organising structures in "soft" condensed matter systems, non-linear dynamics of interacting systems, and models of biophysical processes, all of which bridge the gap between molecular and mesoscopic scales.
Benjamin Simons (Co-Investigator)Eugene Terentjev (Co-Investigator)Mark Warner (Co-Investigator)Michael Payne (Principal Investigator)Nigel Cooper (Co-Investigator)Richard Needs (Co-Investigator)
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