PhD (DPhil) Projects for 2026 entry
1. Magnetic interactions in topological metals: neutron scattering investigations and development of event-mode analysis
This project is funded jointly by Oxford University and an ISIS Facility Development Studentship.
Magnetic materials are found all around us and in many simple cases their properties are well understood. On the other hand, magnetic behaviour in metals is harder to describe theoretically due to the delocalised nature of the conduction electrons and there remain many unexplained phenomena. In this project you will explore metallic magnets whose electrons exhibit intriguing topological features. The key challenge will be to probe magnetic interactions which are anisotropic and extend over long distances.
The most direct way to study these interactions experimentally is by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) from single crystals, and the first objective of our project will be to conduct a programme of neutron scattering experiments at the ISIS Facility on selected metallic magnets containing rare-earth elements.
In order to develop understanding, there will be a need for detailed modelling of the data. The analysis of chopper-spectrometer INS datasets represents a significant bottleneck in the pathway to understanding complex magnetic materials. Currently, such a task requires not only a high degree of expertise, but also a considerable amount of researcher and computer time. Accordingly, the second objective will be to develop a framework involving machine learning from event-mode data which will reduce the effort needed for the initial modelling process and introduce a new capability to INS data analysis.
For more information, contact Dr Viviane Peçanha-Antonio (ISIS Facility) or Prof Andrew Boothroyd (Oxford).
2. Neutron and synchrotron x-ray scattering studies of unconventioanl superconductors and related materials
This project will be part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Superconductivity
This project is concerned with the investigation of magnetic phenomena in unconventional superconductors by neutron scattering and resonant x-ray scattering techniques.
In conventional superconductors, superconductivity is understood to be a condensation of electron pairs (“Cooper pairs”) with zero orbital angular momentum and a singlet spin state. Superconductors are termed “unconventional” if the electron pairs have a non-trivial orbital or spin angular momentum state. In the original BCS theory, the glue which induces electrons to form pairs is provided by phonons, and this mechanism accounts for many conventional superconductors. More recently, a variety of other pairing mechanisms have been proposed for unconventional superconductors, amongst which are mechanisms that involve magnetic fluctuations.
In this project you will investigate atomic-scale magnetism and associated structural and electronic correlations in unconventional superconductors through neutron and x-ray scattering experiments at condensed matter facilities in the UK and overseas. You will also study bulk properties of the materials, e.g. their magnetization and transport behaviour, using facilities in the department. You will perform experiments on a number of different types of unconventional superconductors and related materials, in particular iron-based superconductors and the recently discovered family of layered nickel oxide superconductors. The aim of the experiments will be to obtain high quality data with which to test theoretical models.
The project would suit students with skill in experimental work but also with an interest in data analysis and theoretical modelling. A willingness to work away from the host institution for short periods is also essential.
For more information, contact Prof Andrew Boothroyd
3. Magnetic topological materials
In the last decade, solids called topological quantum materials have become a hot topic with the discovery of electronic states in crystalline solids which are topologically distinct from those of electrons in free space. Topological metals and semimetals exhibit exceptional transport behaviour due to the existence of low-energy quasiparticles which resemble relativistic fermions, and are very promising for practical applications.
In this project you will investigate materials in which the topology of the electrons can be controlled by magnetic order or magnetic fields. These materials take the form of crystalline solids containing magnetic atoms such as manganese, iron and europium, which are responsible for the compound’s magnetism.
The project will combine experimental work with theoretical modelling and numerical analysis to interpret the data. You will perform neutron scattering and magnetic x-ray scattering experiments at international condensed matter facilities in the UK and overseas to probe structure and dynamics on the atomic scale. These experiments will directly determine the magnetic ground states and excited states of the electrons, and by doing so you will gain an understanding of the interactions that stabilise the exotic electronic phases. You will also study the bulk properties of materials, such as their magnetic susceptibility, resistivity and heat capacity, using state-of-the-art facilities in the Clarendon Laboratory.
For more information, contact Prof Andrew Boothroyd.
National and International Condensed Matter Facilities
These projects offer the exciting opportunity to perform neutron and x-ray scattering experiments at the world's best international facilities, such as those at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) and European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble (France), Paul Scherrer Institut near Zürich (Switzerland), DESY synchrotron (Hamburg), and elsewhere, as well as at the ISIS Neutron & Muon Facility and Diamond Light Source located at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory near Oxford. Visits to these facilities provide an excellent opportunity to meet people from other Universities at home and abroad.