James Hague

I am a Senior Lecturer in Physics with interests in quantum materials (especially superconductors), quantum simulators and biophysics / mathematical biology. The current themes of my main research activity are in the following areas:

Theory of Quantum Materials - Superconductivity and graphene, especially models involving electron-phonon interactions and strong correlation: Interactions between electrons in quantum materials lead to important phenomena such as superconductivity and magnetism. I am particularly interested in unconventional superconductivity, and the interplay between strong electronic correlations and electron-phonon interactions (the interactions between electrons and lattice vibrations). I research the role of electron-phonon interactions in quantum materials, especially where they are found in close proximity to strong correlation. This includes the development of quantum Monte Carlo techniques and the use of perturbative and exact diagonalisation techniques. I am particularly interested in systems where the electron-phonon interaction is too strong for low order perturbative techniques.

Theory of Quantum Simulators: Quantum simulators built using optical lattices and arrays of optical tweezers have a growing role for understanding quantum materials. A quantum simulator is a kind of analogue quantum computer that emulates the complex interactions in quantum materials. Optical lattices are formed use lasers to make regular grids representing materials. I research how strong correlation and electron-phonon interactions can be emulated in quantum simulators. This has led to novel proposals for quantum simulators of electron-phonon interactions using Rydberg atoms placed in lattices formed using arrays of optical tweezers.

Mathematical Biology / Biophysics - Cardiovascular systems and diseases. Models of living tissues: Cultured tissues are growing in importance and have applications in pharmaceutical testing, regenerative medicine and cultured meat. My research uses physics to understand and predict the self-organisation of key components of tissues - the cells, blood vessels (vasculature) and extra-cellular matrix (the material that sits around cells and gives tissue its structure). I develop new models and techniques for predicting the structures of vasculatures and self-organisation in tissues due to interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix. I also develop mathematical models for the simulation of embolic stroke.