Overview

The Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute (SBQMI) was founded in May 2010. George Sawatzky was appointed as the first Scientific Director. Under the lead of 18 Principal Investigators, SBQMI houses approximately 40 graduate students, 10 postdoctoral fellows, 5 research associates, and 6 staff members.

There are 3 main research thrusts within SBQMI – Materials, Experiments, and Theory – and various subject areas:

1. Correlated electron systems
2. Nanoelectronics and quantum devices
3. Photonics and Nanostructured Materials
4. Quantum Interfaces and Heterostructures
5. Unconventional Superconductivity
6. Low temperature physics and transport properties
7. Muon Spin Resonance and Beta-NMR
8. Resonant Elastic and Inelastic X-Ray Scattering
9. Spin and time-resolved ARPES on Complex Systems
10. Scanning Probe Microscopy & Spectroscopy
11. Computational Materials Physics
12. Condensed Matter Theory

Our research effort encompasses a large number of experimental and theoretical investigations, such as:

–  The growth of single crystals of novel materials (high temperature superconductors, correlated electron
   systems in general), as well as oxide heterostructures and thin films using molecular beam epitaxy.
–  The development of engineered optical (photonic) materials and electronic/spintronic devices at the
   nanoscale.
–  Theoretical and experimental studies of the many-body electronic structure of solid, surfaces, and inter-
    faces.
–  Development and application of advanced experimental techniques:  scanning tunneling microscopy and
   spectroscopy, laser and synchrotron-based spectroscopy (spin and time-resolved ARPES, resonant elastic
   and inelastic x-ray scattering), and particle-accelerator-based techniques (muon spin resonance, beta-NMR).

Our Mission

The Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute will provide a platform for development of new materials and devices, based mainly on the huge diversity of properties of strongly correlated electron systems evolving from quantum mechanical concepts. The specific intent of SBQMI is to facilitate translation of the theoretical and experimental understanding of these systems to enhanced technological capabilities in nanostructure quantum material devices. In this wide range of new materials, the transition-metal oxides (TMO) and TMO interfaces and heterostructures play a special role. The first step towards this goal is to improve our knowledge of these TMO systems, such that they can be prepared with predictable and high-quality interfaces exhibiting unique properties. Establishment of SBQMI is an essential mechanism for building UBC’s research capacity and leading the way into a new era of materials research, with applications in the electronics and information fields, the automotive industry, the health care sector, and sustainable energy.