Nicholas P. Butch

Nicholas P. Butch is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Maryland (UMD) and affiliated with the NIST Center for Neutron Research. His research focuses on unconventional electron interactions in quantum materials, particularly superconductors and magnets near quantum phase transitions. His group specializes in sample synthesis, neutron scattering, and high magnetic field experiments to study materials like UTe₂, exploring phenomena such as high-field reentrant superconductivity (the 'Lazarus effect'), topological superconductivity, and density wave instabilities.

• Affiliations: University of Maryland (UMD), NIST Center for Neutron Research
• Key Techniques: Neutron scattering, high-field magnetometry, pressure tuning
• Recent Focus: UTe₂'s unusual superconductivity, magnetism, and topological properties

Research interests include quantum criticality, heavy fermion systems, and the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity. His work bridges experimental synthesis and characterization with theoretical modeling. Students under his supervision include I-Lin Liu (PhD), Eric Muccino, and Paul Neves (undergraduates).

Lab/Team: NPB Research Group at UMD collaborating with institutions like NIST, UIUC, and Cornell. Equipment access includes the Center for Nanophysics and Advanced Materials at UMD and neutron facilities at NIST.