David Alan Tennant

David Alan Tennant is a Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Tennessee, affiliated with the Tickle College of Engineering. His position is based at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), collaborating with the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) facilities. His research focuses on quantum magnetism, spin liquids, and neutron scattering techniques, with particular expertise in applying neutron spectroscopy to study entanglement in quantum materials. Active in both experimental and theoretical work, Tennant integrates machine learning approaches to analyze neutron scattering data and model complex magnetic systems.

Key research interests include:

• Quantum spin liquids and fractionalized excitations
• Topological materials and Weyl semimetals
• Neutron scattering instrumentation development
• Machine learning-driven materials discovery

His recent work (2022-2025) emphasizes dynamics of spin ice systems, entanglement quantification, and quantum critical phenomena. He has pioneered the use of laser-neutron hybrid techniques and analog quantum processors for simulating neutron scattering. His lab at ORNL collaborates with international institutions on neutron scattering experiments at the SNS Second Target Station.

Publications from 2020–2025 highlight advancements in:

• Pressure-induced quantum phase transitions
• Entanglement signatures in spin chains
• KPZ hydrodynamics in low-dimensional magnets
• Machine learning for inverse scattering problems