Nathan Bentley 

PhD Student

What do you do?

I am a PhD student working with Professors Tom Lancaster and Stewart Clark to study low-dimensional and topological magnetism, using both experimental and computational techniques.

Alongside my PhD, I enjoy music and play saxophone in several college-based and university-wide ensembles.

How are you involved in this area of science? 

Magnetism can be understood through the study of materials and how their magnetic properties change with temperature, applied magnetic field and other factors.

We carry out such measurements using both equipment in Durham and particle accelerators at large central facilities in the UK and Switzerland.  Computational analysis is then used to connect the observed behaviour of these magnetic materials with theoretical models.

In particular we are interested in the changes between magnetic states, as these phase transitions allow us to characterise the properties of materials.

What do you love about this topic?

The study of magnetism allows for the combination of experimental and theoretical tools in order to tackle a physics problem. Nothing is better than the satisfaction when measurements and modelling combine in order to provide a cohesive explanation for why a material behaves as it does.

How does this work deliver real-world impact?

Phase transitions are present all around us, be it the boiling of a kettle or the melting of ice. The idea of universality states that these transitions can be grouped into a number of different classes that display similar properties, independent of the underlying physics.

Therefore, by understanding phase transitions in magnetic materials we gain insight into the behaviour of a wide range of physical systems. Additionally, by investigating magnetic materials we can determine those with properties that are the most promising for applications in technology, for example data storage.

Further reading on the subject can be found here:

•  'A Very Short Introduction series', for example 'Magnetism: A very
  short introduction' by S. J. Blundell. 
• The article 'More is Different' by P. W. Anderson highlights
  the importance of condensed matter physics.