Shailesh Chandrasekharan
Professor of Physics

Prof. Chandrasekharan is interested in understanding quantum field theories non-perturbatively from first principles calculations. His research focuses on lattice formulations of these theories with emphasis on strongly correlated fermionic systems of interest in condensed matter, particle and nuclear physics. He develops novel Monte-Carlo algorithms to study these problems. He is particularly excited about solutions to the notoriously difficult sign problem that haunts quantum systems containing fermions and gauge fields. He has proposed an idea called the fermion bag approach , using which he has been able to solve numerous sign problems that seemed unsolvable earlier. Using various algorithmic advances over the past decade, he is interested in understanding the properties of quantum critical points containing interacting fermions. Some of his recent publications can be found here . Recently he is exploring how one can use quantum computers to solve quantum field theories. 

Current Research Interests

I am interested in strongly correlated quantum phenomena that arise naturally in nuclei, dense nuclear systems, quantum anti-ferromagnets, high Tc materials etc. I develop novel quantum Monte Carlo techniques to solve simplified microscopic lattice models that are expected to capture the important physics in these physical phenomena.  I am particularly fascinated by quantum critical phenomena that can occur in such models where the details of the microscopic models are no longer important and the answers one gets are universal and more broadly applicable. My goal is to compute these universal properties without approximations where possible. One of my expertise is in the area of solving fermion sign problems that hinder Monte Carlo methods when applied to such systems.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Contact Information

  • Box 90305, Durham, NC 27708-0305
  • Science Drive, 253, Physics/Math Bldg., Durham, NC 27708

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