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James Charles Séamus Davis (born 22 March 1961)^[2] is an Irish–American physicist whose research explores the world of macroscopic quantum physics. Davis concentrates upon the fundamental physics of exotic states of electronic, magnetic, atomic and space-time quantum matter. A specialty is development of innovative instrumentation to allow direct atomic-scale visualisation or perception of the quantum many-body phenomena that are characteristic of these states.

Davis operates two suites of ultra-low vibration laboratories, one in Beecroft Building at University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, another in the Kane Building at University College Cork in Ireland. Other key components of the program are at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids^[3] in Germany.

Biography

Born in 1961 in Skibbereen, County Cork, Davis was admitted to University College Cork (UCC) in 1978 to study physics under Frank Fahy, graduating with a B.Sc. in 1983.^[4] He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1989. He became a postdoctoral research associate at UC Berkeley the following year, and joined the faculty in 1993. He was appointed Professor of Physics in 2000.^[5]

From 1998 to 2002, Davis was a faculty physicist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He then joined Cornell University as Professor of Physics in 2003, and was appointed J.G. White Distinguished Professor of Physics in 2008. In 2007, he became SUPA Distinguished Professor of Physics at the University of St Andrews. He joined Brookhaven National Laboratory in 2007 as a senior physicist, and in 2009 was appointed director of DOE's Center for Emergent Superconductivity. In 2019, Davis became Professor of Quantum Physics at UCC, Senior Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford, and Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford.^[5]

Research

Davis' overall interests focus upon macroscopic quantum physics. Active research subjects include studies of:

Topological Superconductors
Electron Pair Density Wave States
Quantum & Classical Spin Liquids
Kondo Metals & Insulators
Visualising Electron Fluid Flow
Cu/Fe High-Tc Superconductors
Topological Insulators
Macroscopic Quantum Dynamics

For these studies, a variety of specialised instrumentation has been developed including scanning tunneling microscopes, quantum interferometers, quantum mechanical oscillators and spin noise spectrometers. The overall strategy is to exploit distinct capabilities and facilities so as to conduct scientifically harmonized studies with complementary scientific instruments at all group locations.

Recognition

Memberships

Year	Organisation	Type	Ref.
2004	Institute of Physics	Fellow	^[5]
2005	American Physical Society	Fellow	^[5]
2010	National Academy of Sciences	Member	^[6]
2020	Royal Irish Academy	Member	^[7]
2022	American Association for the Advancement of Science	Fellow	^[8]

Awards

Year	Organisation	Award	Citation	Ref.
2005	Duke University	Fritz London Memorial Prize^[a]	"In recognition of his studies of superfluid ³He weak link arrays revealing a rich variety of phenomena including quantum interference and for the invention and development of spectroscopic imaging STM techniques and their application in studies of individual impurity/dopant atom effects, vortex-core electronic structure, quasiparticle interference effects and alternative ordered states in the cuprate superconductors."	^[9]
2009	—	Kamerlingh Onnes Prize^[b]	"For pioneering and seminal experiments which illuminate the nature of superconductivity in strongly correlated electron systems."	^[10]
2020	Aalto University	Olli V. Lounasmaa Memorial Prize	"For his pioneering investigations and applications of exquisite scanning probe techniques for visualization of electronic quantum matter at the atomic scale."	^[11]
2023	American Physical Society	Oliver E. Buckley Prize^[c]	"For innovative applications of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to complex quantum states of matter."	^[12]