UC Santa Barbara Physics Professor Honored

Another academic nod to UC Santa Barbara.

Physics Professor Matthew Fisher recently received the 2015 Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize.

Nanotechnology is at the crux of his pioneer research in the superconductor-insulator quantum transition phase.

Fisher likens it to different phases of matter like a solid, liquid or gas and what happens to say, water, when you freeze or boil it.

Only Fisher is dealing with quantum mechanics — an amazing set of rules to describe very, very small and extremely cold things.

“If one takes metal, like a piece of lead .. and cools it to a very low temperature, then something really remarkable happens: The electrical resistance drops to zero,” said Fisher.

The physics professor tosses in the force of a magnetic field. That’s where the super conducting phase can morph into an insulating phase. The professor calls it a conceptually new understanding of how crystalline materials work.

Still, Fisher admits, it’s unclear how this techonology will eventually be used.

“Often discoveries and theories in physics reach fruition 30, 40, 50 years later,” said Fisher. He cites the silcon chip techology used in today’s laptop was discovered and created during the 1950s.

Three co-recipients share the prestigious award.

Fisher, who is a theoretical physicist, believes quantum mechanics is ripe for a life-changing revolution. And physicists are leading the way.

“There’s a component of science .. that is inspiring .. and in many ways that’s what drives a lot of scientists,” Fisher explains. “We’re trying to find beauty in nature and that’s what we’re looking for. And if nature being beautiful also leads to something that’s going to help people, that’s more than icing on the cake. That’s fantastic.”