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Physics Superconductivity and Magnetism

Dr Robert Williams

Background

I completed a PhD in Physics at Durham University in 2016, under the supervision of Prof. Tom Lancaster. My project comprised numerous investigations into novel quantum magnetic systems, including molecular magnet systems and correlated magnetic oxides. The primary experimental technique for these studies was muon-spin spectroscopy, and I made extensive use of the facilities at ISIS, UK and PSI, Switzerland. Prior to that, I completed an integrated MPhys degree from the University of Oxford in 2012. I joined the Superconductivity and Magnetism group at Warwick as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in October 2016, where I worked with Dr Paul Goddard.

Research Interests

My project involved the study of quantum magnet systems and materials which exhibit unconventional superconductivity. This research included the measurement of electronic, magnetic and structural properties under extreme conditions such as low temperatures, high magnetic fields and hydrostatic pressure. Collectively, these measurements elucidate the role of quantum fluctuations, topology and disorder in establishing new states of matter, and provide a means of scrutinizing fundamental quantum physics.

Current Role

Robert is currently a Trainee Medical Physicist working in Edinburgh with NHS Scotland.

Publications

  • T. Lancaster, B. M. Huddart, R. C. Williams, F. Xiao, K. J. A. Franke, P. J. Baker, F. L. Pratt, S. J. Blundell, J. A. Schlueter, M. B. Mills, A. C. Maahs and K. E. Preuss, "Probing magnetic order and disorder in the one-dimensional molecular spin chains CuF2(pyz) and [Ln(hfac)3(boaDTDA)]n (Ln = Sm, La) using implanted muons", Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 31, 394002 (2019). (URL)
  • T. Lancaster, F. Xiao, B. M. Huddart, R. C. Williams, F. L. Pratt, S. J. Blundell, S. J. Clark, R. Scheuermann, T. Goko, S. Ward, J. L. Manson, Ch. Rüegg, and K. W. Krämer, "Quantum magnetism in molecular spin ladders probed with muon-spin spectroscopy", New Journal of Physics 20, 103002 (2018). (URL)
  • J. L. Manson, J. Brambleby, P. A. Goddard, P. M. Spurgeon, J. A. Villa, J. Liu, S. Ghannadzadeh, F. Foronda, J. Singleton, T. Lancaster, S. J. Clark, I. O. Thomas, F. Xiao, R. C. Williams, F. L. Pratt, S. J. Blundell, C. V. Topping, C. Baines, C. Campana and B. Noll, "Implications of bond disorder in a S=1 kagome lattice", Scientific Reports 8, 4745 (2018). (URL)
  • A. Berlie, I. Terry, M. Szablewski, F. Xiao, and R. C. Williams, "A collapse of ferromagnetism in an organic based magnet under pressure", Materials Research Express 4, 026103 (2017). (URL)
  • J. S. Möller, T. Lancaster, S. J. Blundell, F. L. Pratt, P. J. Baker, F. Xiao, R. C. Williams, W. Hayes, M. M. Turnbull, and C. P. Landee, "Quantum-critical spin dynamics in a Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid studied with muon-spin relaxation", Physical Review B 95, 020402(R) (2017). (URL)
  • A. Mannig, J. S. Möller, M. Thede, D. Hüvonen, T. Lancaster, F. Xiao, R. C. Williams, Z. Guguchia, R. Khasanov, E. Morenzoni, and A. Zheludev, "Effect of disorder on a pressure-induced z = 1 magnetic quantum phase transition", Physical Review B 94, 144418 (2016). (URL)
  • R. C. Williams, F. Xiao, T. Lancaster, R. De Renzi, G. Allodi, S. Bordignon, P. G. Freeman, F. L. Pratt, S. R. Giblin, J. S. Möller, S. J. Blundell, A. T. Boothroyd, and D. Prabhakaran, "Magnetic phase diagram of La2−xSrxCoO4 revised using muon-spin relaxation", Physical Review B 93, 140406(R) (2016). (URL)
  • J. Liu, P. A. Goddard, J. Singleton, J. Brambleby, F. Foronda, J. S. Möller, Y. Kohama, S. Ghannadzadeh, A. Ardavan, S. J. Blundell, T. Lancaster, F. Xiao, R. C. Williams, F. L. Pratt, P. J. Baker, K. Wierschem, S. H. Lapidus, K. H. Stone, P. W. Stephens, J. Bendix, T. J. Woods, K. E. Carreiro, H. E. Tran, C. J. Villa, and J. L. Manson, "Antiferromagnetism in a family of S = 1 square lattice coordination polymers NiX2(pyz)2 (X = Cl, Br, I, NCS; pyz = Pyrazine)", Inorganic Chemistry 55, 3515 (2016). (URL)
  • L. H. R. Dos Santos, A. Lanza, A. M. Barton, J. Brambleby, W. J. A. Blackmore, P. A. Goddard, F. Xiao, R. C. Williams, T. Lancaster, F. L. Pratt, S. J. Blundell, J. Singleton, J. L. Manson, and P. Macchi, "Experimental and theoretical electron density analysis of copper pyrazine nitrate quasi-low-dimensional quantum magnets", Journal of the American Chemical Society 138, 2280 (2016). (URL)
  • R. C. Williams, F. Xiao, I. O. Thomas, S. J. Clark, T. Lancaster, G. A. Cornish, S. J. Blundell, W. Hayes, A. K. Paul, C. Felser, "Muon-spin relaxation study of the double perovskite insulators Sr2BOsO6 (B  =  Fe, Y, ln)", Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter 28, 76001 (2016). (URL)
  • T. Lancaster, R. C. Williams, I. O. Thomas, F. Xiao, F. L. Pratt, S. J. Blundell, J. C. Loudon, T. Hesjedal, S. J. Clark, P. D. Hatton, M. Ciomaga Hatnean, D. S. Keeble, and G. Balakrishnan, "Transverse field muon-spin rotation signature of the skyrmion-lattice phase in Cu2OSeO3", Physical Review B 91, 224408 (2015). (URL)
  • N. Z. Ali, R. C. Williams, F. Xiao, S. J. Clark, T. Lancaster, S. J. Blundell, D. V. Sheptyakov, and M. Jansen, "Magnetostructural relationship in the tetrahedral spin-chain oxide CsCoO2", Physical Review B 91, 024419 (2015). (URL)
  • F. Xiao, J. S. Möller, T. Lancaster, R. C. Williams, F. L. Pratt, S. J. Blundell, D. Ceresoli, A. M. Barton, and J. L. Manson, "Spin diffusion in the low-dimensional molecular quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet Cu(pyz)(NO3)2 detected with implanted muons", Physical Review B 91, 144417 (2015). (URL)
  • B. Yan, A. K. Paul, S. Kanungo, M. Reehuis, A. Hoser, D. M. Többens, W. Schnelle, R. C. Williams, T. Lancaster, F. Xiao, J. S. Möller, S. J. Blundell, W. Hayes, C. Felser, and M. Jansen, "Lattice-Site-Specific Spin Dynamics in Double Perovskite Sr2CoOsO6", Physical Review Letters 112, 147202 (2014). (URL)

Write to

If you have any questions about the research work carried out by Dr Robert Williams while at Warwick please email:

P dot Goddard at warwick dot ac dot uk