Professor Han Fu conducts research on the theoretical study of both condensed matter and ultracold atomic systems, with an emphasis on experimental connection and practical applications. Both analytical and numerical approaches are used. On the condensed matter side, she studies how the ubiquitous disorder in the real world affects the electrical conduction of various functional materials. In the ultracold atomic systems, she studies the nonequilibrium dynamics of Bose atoms subject to external driving or sudden changes in system parameters. This work characterizes the full evolution in such processes, which uncovers rich physics such as nonadiabatic preparation of novel Bose-Einstein condensates and simulations of cosmological evolution.
Professor Yichen Hu focuses on theoretical condensed matter. One of the central goals in condensed matter physics is to understand the possible phases of matter, from non-interacting free fermion materials to strongly-correlated quantum matter. These quantum materials are characterized by their quantum entanglement structures, and thus have physical properties beyond any classical descriptions. His research aims to understand their unusual electrical, thermal, optical properties, and subsequently their potential applications in quantum science.
Professor Andy Lau works in the area of soft condensed matter physics which focuses on materials like fluids, emulsions (mayonnaise), polymer solutions, and liquid crystals, that are “soft” to the touch. A particularly exciting research area is the overlap between soft matter and cellular biology, since the fundamental blocks of life - the plasma membrane, the cytoskeleton, microtubule, DNA, and actin - are all soft materials. The two broad areas of his research aim to understand electrostatic effects in soft matter and nonequilibrium fluctuations of active biological systems.
