Research Interests
Non-Markovian Dynamics

When a quantum system is strongly coupled to its environment the usual approximations used to derive a master equation break down, and we need to use more sophisticated methods. These non-Markovian systems are particularly relevant for understanding the mechanisms of decoherence in solid state systems. We have developed new methods combining the path integral description of quantum mechanics with matrix product based techniques to numerically find the dynamics of these open quantum systems.
Recent publications about non-Markovian systems are below:
Using the Environment to Understand non-Markovian Open Quantum Systems
D. Gribben, A. Strathearn, G.E. Fux, P. Kirton, B.W. Lovett arXiv:2106.04212 (2021)
Environment-Induced Rabi Oscillations in the Optomechanical Boson-Boson Model
Yuri Minoguchi, Peter Kirton, Peter Rabl arXiv:1904.02164 (2019)
Exact Quantum Dynamics in Structured Environments
Dominic Gribben, Aidan Strathearn, Jake Iles-Smith, Dainius Kilda, Ahsan Nazir, Brendon W. Lovett and Peter Kirton Phys. Rev. Research 2, 013265 (2020) arXiv
Efficient non-Markovian quantum dynamics using time-evolving matrix product operators
A. Strathearn, P. Kirton, D. Kilda, J. Keeling and B. W. Lovett Nat. Commun. 9, 3322 (2018). arXiv
Efficient real-time path integrals for non-Markovian spin-boson models
A. Strathearn, B.W. Lovett and P. Kirton New J. Phys. 19, 093009 (2017) arXiv
The Open Dicke Model

The Dicke model provides a simple fully quantum mechanical description of the interaction between light confined in a cavity and matter. It predicts a phase transition between a state where the cavity is empty and a superradiant phase where the cavity mode is macroscopically occupied. However, experimental realisations of this model are all in non-equilibrium situations where driving and dissipation are important. We have been involved in developing techniques to understand the fate of this phase transition in the presence of various non-equilibrium effects.
Recent publications about the Dicke model are below:
Super-correlated radiance in nonlinear photonic waveguides
Zhihai Wang, Tuomas Jaako, Peter Kirton, Peter Rabl Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 213601 (2020) arXiv
Introduction to the Dicke model: from equilibrium to nonequilibrium, and vice versa
Peter Kirton, Mor M. Roses, Jonathan Keeling, Emanuele G. Dalla Torre Adv. Quantum Tech. (2018) arXiv
Superradiant and lasing states in driven-dissipative Dicke models
Peter Kirton and Jonathan Keeling New J. Phys. 20, 015009 (2018) arXiv
Suppressing and restoring the Dicke superradiance transition by dephasing and decay
Peter Kirton and Jonathan Keeling Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 123602 (2017) arXiv
Organic Polaritons

Polaritons are quasiparticles made by hybridising electronic excitations with photons in a cavity. Typically the electronic excitation is bound electron-hole pair in a quantum well. Recently it has become possible to instead use an electronic transition of a large organic molecule. These molecules typically have much larger dipole moments and so polariton physics can be seen at room temperature. However, there are typically more degrees of freedom of the molecule to worry about. We focus on understanding the effects of these degrees of freedom such as vibrational and rotational motion of the molecules on the polariton physics.
Recent publications about organic polaritons are below:
Incoherent charge transport in an organic polariton condensate
M. Ahsan Zeb, Peter G. Kirton, Jonathan Keeling arXiv:2004.09790 (2020)
Organic polariton lasing and the weak to strong coupling crossover
Artem Strashko, Peter Kirton, Jonathan Keeling Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 193601 (2018) arXiv
Orientational alignment in Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics
Jonathan Keeling and Peter G. Kirton Phys. Rev. A 97, 053836 (2018) arXiv
Exact states and spectra of vibrationally dressed polaritons
M. Ahsan Zeb, Peter G. Kirton and Jonathan Keeling ACS Photonics 5, 249 (2018) arXiv
Excitonic spectral features in strongly-coupled organic polaritons
Justyna A. Ćwik, Peter Kirton, Simone De Liberato, and Jonathan Keeling Phys. Rev. A 93, 033840 (2016) arXiv
Photon BEC

Recent experiments have observed the Bose-Einstein condensation of photons. Confining the light in a multimode cavity along with a small amount of fluorescent dye allows it to thermalise to the temperature of the dye, undergoing a transition to a BEC above a critical pump strength. We have been involved with developing a microscopic model of this process allowing us to understand the thermalisation process in detail along with being able to predict many details of the experiments.
Recent publications about photon BEC are below:
Polarization dynamics in a photon Bose-Einstein condensate
Ryan I. Moodie, Peter Kirton, and Jonathan Keeling Phys. Rev. A 96, 043844 (2017) arXiv
Spatial dynamics, thermalization, and gain clamping in a photon condensate
Jonathan Keeling and Peter Kirton Phys. Rev. A 93, 013829 (2016) arXiv