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Raja Amdouni

Radboud University

Supervisors: Gałęski Stanisław (Radboud University) – Henry Legg (University of St Andrews)

Short Bio: I am a researcher with a background in quantum physics, renewable energy engineering, and data science. I worked on both experimental and computational projects, exploring topics such as porous silicon for optoelectronics, energy-efficient technologies, and statistical data analysis. My research interest focuses on condensed matter physics, quantum transport, and the thermal properties of novel materials. For my PhD, titled “Pushing Gravity to the Limit: Thermal Conductance in the Quantum Limit of Topological Matter” I will investigate the connection between gravity and heat transport in quantum materials.

Pushing gravity to the limit: Thermal conductance in the quantum limit of topological matter

Project summary: Electrical conductivity is commonly well understood due to the long-established principles of electrodynamics. These fundamental principles of electronic structure and transport were further refined with the rise of quantum physics in the last century, leading to groundbreaking technologies.

In contrast, heat transfer remains far more complex and less well understood, especially within the realm of quantum physics. This complexity arises for several reasons, such as the involvement of multiple types of carriers, the dissipation of heat during the process, and its conversion into other forms of energy, all of which make it harder to model and predict. These challenges are especially prominent in topological materials, where quantum phenomena influence heat transfer in ways that classical models fail to explain — and which quantum mechanics has yet to fully account for.
This project explores an idea first proposed decades ago by J. M. Luttinger, which relates heat transport to gravity in the context of quantum materials. By studying how heat moves in topological materials, we aim to uncover new quantum effects that may eventually lead to innovative technologies. The project combines numerical modelling and experimental measurements. The first step is to test the validity of the correlation between gravitational phenomena and thermal transport. This will be done by developing numerical models for heat transport in topological materials. The second step is experimental, and will be conducted using the large field resistive magnets. The experiments will primarily focus on measuring heat transfer in carefully selected materials under strong magnetic fields and sub-kelvin temperatures. In addition, to investigate the role of phonons in energy dissipation, the propagation of ultrasound waves through materials at different frequencies will be studied.
This project offers a remarkable opportunity to combine theoretical and experimental approaches. The Centre for Quantum Designer Materials at the University of St Andrews provides an ideal environment to test Luttinger’s theory, while the HFML-FELIX laboratory at Radboud University offers unique and advanced research facilities with its high magnetic fields and free-electron lasers — making it an ideal setting to test cutting-edge theories.