Conference Service Mandl

abstract: The aim of this Conference is to bring together scientists from all over the world to discuss the current frontiers of research in ultra-cold atoms. In particular, the programme will focus on the analysis of novel quantum phases and non-equilibrium phenomena that have direct connection to problems found in condensed matter physics, astrophysics and nuclear physics. The connections to condensed matter physics are particularly strong in the case of optical lattices, where ultra-cold atoms can simulate many known condensed matter phenomena with unprecedented control. In addition, ultra-cold atoms can reveal completely new phenomena which are not possible to realize in standard condensed-matter systems, since interactions, hopping, dimensionality, and temperatures can be fully controlled in the atomic systems.

abstract: Describing the complex behaviour of materials at the atomic level requires a sophisticated description of the correlated motion of the electrons. Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) is an increasingly popular and explicitly many-body method with the unusual capability of yielding highly accurate results whilst also exhibiting a very favourable scaling of computational cost with system size. Over the last eighteen years, the Cambridge group have been researching QMC methods and we have created a powerful, general computer program - CASINO - to carry out the calculations. The school will focus both on the basic theory of QMC and on more advanced practical techniques, and will include a thorough introduction to the CASINO program. A background in density functional theory or similar is normally thought to be useful.