Condensed Matter :
The condensed matter research in the physics department
currently is primarily focused on the experimental material-science
research and has two active laboratories.
Research in the
Strongly
Correlated Electron Laboratory is led by
Dr.
Ho, Pei-Chun. The main focus of her research is on advanced
materials that can improve our future energy efficiency and
conservation. The study includes the investigation of
unconventional superconductivity through the interplay between
superconductivity and magnetism and quantum critical behavior.
A second project is focused on the effect of reduced
dimensionality on magnetism of rare earth elemental nano-clusters.
Physical properties of these materials are characterized
through high magnetic field and low temperature measurements such
as electrical resistivity, ac magnetic susceptibility, specific
heat, thermopower, and thermal conductivity at Dr. Ho’s lab.
This group currently consists of 1 undergraduate and 2 MS-program
students. Emphasis is on hands-on experience in designing and
setting up instrumentation required for experiments, Computer
interfacing and LabView programming, and synthesis of nanoparticles
of rare earth elements.
The nanotechnology research is conducted in
Dr.
Daqing Zhang’s laboratory. The facilities include
atomic layer deposition (ALD), plasma enhanced chemical vapor
deposition (PECVD), and single-zone and three-zone tube furnaces.
Other facilities can be accessed with such as TEM, SEM, XRD, and
XRF. Dr. Zhang’s current research projects include synthesis
of semiconducting nanowires, complex nanosprings, and oxide thin
film and surface coatings; characterization of chemical,
electrical, magnetic and optical properties of nanostructure
materials; and fabrication of nano-devices for sensors of chemical,
mechanical, and electrical purposes.
