Physics of Light Dense Matter: Quantum and Classical Effects

Summary:
Restricting the volume of a material, through application of pressure, changes the dominance of
interactions within the material, and exposes unnatural states of matter not found in our predominantly
adiabatic universe. One of the most exotic phenomena in condensed matter is the phase transitions
purely driven by quantum effects. While quantum fluctuations in electronic states are always relevant,
it is also possible to observe quantum effects in lattice of very light elements. At ambient conditions,
the lightest metal of the periodic system is lithium. Similar to hydrogen and helium even at zero
temperature lattice of lithium remains far from static and a fascinating system to explore the lattice
quantum effects in light dense matter.
In this talk, Dr. Deemyad will review some of the major goals of research in high pressure physics in exploring the
quantum effects in dense matter. She will present some of our studies on exploring the signature of lattice
quantum contributions to the structural phase transitions of lithium at low temperature and present our
results on resolving the long-lasting mystery of lithium ground state. Finally, she will discuss her studies
in exploring the electronic structure of isotopically pure lithium and present experimentally resolved
structure of the Fermi surface of lithium and measurements of its pressure dependence.

Speaker:
Shanti Deemyad is an experimental condensed matter physicist, currently serving as an Associate Professor of Physics and head of the high-pressure research laboratory at the University of Utah. Deemyad earned her bachelor’s degree in physics at Sharif University of Technology. During her bachelor’s degree, Deemyad worked in Magnetic Research Lab under supervision of Mohammad Akhavan where she studied the effects of oxygen doping on properties of Cuprates. She joined Washington University in St. Louis for her graduate studies, earning a PhD in 2004 under supervision of Jim Schilling. In WASHU she studied the superconducting properties of simple metals under pressure. After her graduation Deemyad did a postdoctoral fellowship with Ike Silvera at Harvard University where she studied the melting curve of hydrogen under extreme conditions and found the first evidence of the maximum in the melting line of hydrogen.
Deemyad's research is centered around the exploration of quantum effects in lattice and electronic properties of condensed matter systems. She is particularly interested in investigating exotic states of matter that emerge under extreme conditions of pressure and temperature. Deemyad is a dedicated advocate for the advancement of women in the field of science. As part of this commitment, she co-founded the "Women of High Pressure" group, which is dedicated to supporting and empoweringwomen within the high-pressure research community.