Assistant professor
Paris-Saclay University

Biography

I am an assistant professor in the Theory group of the Laboratory of Solid State Physics of the University Paris-Saclay. My main research interests are ab-initio theories of condensed matter, topological states of matter, and strongly correlated electron systems.

Interests

  • Ab-initio theories of condensed matter
  • Topological states of matter
  • Strongly correlated electron systems

Education

  • PhD in Physics, University of Cambridge (2016)

Gravitational analogues

We designed low-dimensional electronic models, related to Weyl semimetals, which mimic some of the properties of gravitational systems. In particular, we studied the dynamics of wave packets of electrons in 1D and 2D lattice models, the spectral properties of these models, and ground-state thermalisation near a gravitational horizon.

Publications


Finite-size topological insulators

We investigate the influence of finite thickness on properties of topological insulators.

We studied a minimal model for topological insulators in a slab geometry. One parameter of our model, namely the Dirac velocity perpendicular to the slab, distinguishes between two qualitatively distinct situations: when it is zero, we find that the topological invariants of the 3D system can be entirely deduced from properties of the slab. However when it is not zero, a new phase arises, with surface states but without band inversion. We also investigated this model for large dispersions perpendicularly to the slab and unveiled a regime where the slab displays non-trivial topological invariants but nonetheless extrapolates towards a trivial 3D state.

The new phase which displays surface states without band inversion is localised close to topological phase transitions. We therefore studied ZrTe5, which was shown to be a strong topological insulator, on the border of a weak topological insulating phase. We derived a model for this material fitted to ab-initio calculations and showed that it matches many experimental signatures, including optical, transport, and spectroscopic results.

Publications


Collaborations with experimentalists

I collaborate with experimental teams performing optical measurements on very diverse materials, such as compounds exhibiting charge density wave phases. Using density functional theory (DFT) and many-body perturbation theory, in the framework of the GW approximation, we calculate observables which enhance our understanding of the measured physics.

Publication

Morice, C. (2023). Synthetic gravitational horizons in low-dimensional quantum matter. WE-Heraeus-Seminar on “Interfacing Low and High‐Energy Physics with Topological Matter,” Bad Honnef, Allemagne.
Morice, C. (2022, June 12). Quasi-particle self-consistent GW in Yambo. Yambo Developers Meeting, CNR Institute of Nanoscience, Modena, Italie.
Morice, C. (2021, March 18). 2D to 3D crossover in topological insulators. American Physical Society March Meeting 2021, Online.
Morice, C. (2019, October 24). Gravitational horizons in low-dimensional quantum matter. Signatures of Topology in Condensed Matter, Trieste, Italie.
Morice, C. (2021, January 19). Gravitational horizons in low-dimensional quantum matter. Physics@Veldhoven 2021, Veldhoven, Netherlands.
Morice, C. (2022, September 6). Synthetic gravitational horizons in low-dimensional quantum matter. Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft Meeting 2022, Regensburg, Germany.
Morice, C. (2019, Avril). Gravitational horizons in low-dimensional quantum matter. Université Paris-Sud, Amsterdam, Pays-Bas.
Morice, C. (2021, January 13). Hidden fluctuations close to a quantum bicritical point. Microscopics of Superconductivity in Perovskite Oxides: Challenges, Hurdles and Enigmas, on line.
Morice, C. (2022, October 18). Gravitational horizons in low-dimensional quantum matter. ESPCI, Paris, France.
Morice, C. (2022, 12). Matière topologique et interactions électroniques. Colloque Bouyssy, Orsay, France.
Morice, C. (2023, juillet). Gravitational horizons in quantum matter.
Morice, C. (2022, October 26). Gravitational horizons in quantum matter. CNR Institute of Nanoscience, Modena, Italie.
Morice, C. (2021, January). Microscopics of Superconductivity in Perovskite Oxides: Challenges, Hurdles and Enigmas. on line, Paris-Saclay , France.
Könye, V., Mertens, L., Morice, C., Chernyavsky, D., Moghaddam, A. G., Van Wezel, J., & Van Den Brink, J. (2023). Anisotropic optics and gravitational lensing of tilted Weyl fermions. Physical Review B, 107(20), L201406. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.107.L201406
Mertens, L., Moghaddam, A. G., Chernyavsky, D., Morice, C., van den Brink, J., & van Wezel, J. (2022). Thermalization by a synthetic horizon. Physical Review Research, 4(4), 043084. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.043084
Könye, V., Morice, C., Chernyavsky, D., Moghaddam, A. G., van den Brink, J., & van Wezel, J. (2022). Horizon physics of quasi-one-dimensional tilted Weyl cones on a lattice. Physical Review Research, 4(3), 033237. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.033237
van der Linden, B., Hogenelst, T., Bliem, R., Dohnalová, K., & Morice, C. (2022). Electronic and structural properties of crystalline and amorphous (TaNbHfTiZr)C from first principles. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 34(42), 425403. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648X/ac877d

I teach physics in various tracks of the University Paris-Saclay.

Lectures

Numerical Physics — License Double Diplôme Maths-Physique (BSc, 2nd year)

Exercises classes

Quantum mechanics — CentraleSupélec (BSc, 3rd year)
Statistical Physics — Magistère de Physique Fondamentale (BSc, 3rd year)
Classical Mechanics — Magistère de Physique Fondamentale (BSc, 3rd year)

Practicals

Numerical Physics — ENS Paris-Saclay (BSc, 3rd year)
Density Functional Theory — Master in Materials Sciences (MSc, 2nd year)

Contact

corentin.morice@universite-paris-saclay.fr

+33 (0) 1 69 15 45 73

1 rue Nicolas Appert, Bâtiment 510, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France

Exercises classes

Exercise classes for the Statistical Physics course of the 3rd year of the Fundamental Physics bachelor in the University Paris-Saclay.

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