Research activities
Condensed Matter and Biophysics
Condensed Matter Theory
The activity of the condensed matter theory group is the understanding of the physical and chemical properties of molecules, materials and disordered systems. We focus on 2D and quantum materials, charge density waves, superconductivity and on problems related to the electron-phonon interaction and anharmonicity. A fingerprint of our work is the development of innovative theoretical and computational approaches to understand complex spectroscopies and ultrafast phenomena. Our field of research is highly interdisciplinary and encompasses very broad length (from the subnano to the micro) and time (above the femtoseconds) scales.
Statistical and Biological Physics
In the Statistical and Biological Physics (SBP) group we investigate classical and quantum aspects of complex systems, both in and out of thermal equilibrium with an emphasis on biological and biomimetic macromolecular systems. Ongoing research projects include advancing theoretical and computational frameworks, taking advantage of modern developments in machine-learning algorithms, data mining and high-performance computing, as well as conducting phenomenological investigations, in close connection with experimental colleagues.
Nuclei, Particles and Gravitation
Gravitation and Cosmology
The research activity of the Theoretical Gravitation and Cosmology group focuses on the theory of fundamental interactions, with particular emphasis on black hole physics and theoretical cosmology. Our work is rooted in general relativity and quantum field theory in curved spacetime. The main research areas include: black hole physics, with a focus on non-singular models and Hawking radiation theoretical models of dark matter and dark energy, as well as tensions within the standard cosmological model models of the primordial universe and cosmic inflation extended theories of gravity, scale invariance, and nonlinear aspects of general relativity. The group is currently composed of Massimiliano Rinaldi and Sunny Vagnozzi.
Nuclear Theory
The research activity of the nuclear theory group is focused on ab-initio approaches for the description of both nuclear structure and reactions. In particular, we develop few-body techniques for the description of electro(weak) reactions, Monte Carlo methods to study the properties of neutron star matter, tensor network methods to study collective neutrino oscillations and design quantum algorithms to take advantage of current and
near term quantum computers.
Relativistic and Nuclear Astrophysics
In the group of Relativistic and Nuclear Astrophysics we investigate some of the most energetic events in the Universe, like mergers of neutron stars and black holes, or gravitational collapses of massive stars. This research lies at the interface between general relativity, nuclear and particle physics, fluid dynamics, and high energy astrophysics. Bridging sophisticated numerical simulations with astrophysical observations in multiple messengers, this effort aims at studying matter, radiation and spacetime in the most extreme regimes.
Quantum Gases and Quantum Information
The Ultracold Gases and Quantum Information group explores the physics of superfluids of bosons, fermions and their mixtures, out-of-equilibrium dynamics, open quantum systems, synthetic quantum systems with atoms and photons, their simulation using quantum Monte Carlo and tensor networks, and their use for novel quantum technologies. This research is highly cross-disciplinary, spanning atomic physics, statistical and many-body physics, quantum optics, and quantum information. We are embedded in the BEC Center, whose goal is to strengthen the synergy between cutting-edge theoretical and experimental research.