Materials physics attracts a high fraction of physicists worldwide not only by virtue of the immediate technological impact of its advances, but also because the theoretical tools developed to understand emerging properties, such as superconductivity or ferromagnetism, can be applied in all other areas of physics. Our group has a very broad range of interests, from the synthesis of new materials with lower dimensionality to the use of atomic-size probes to understand the observed properties in terms of the most elementary atomic constituents. Our faculty and students devote a significant effort to the development of new experimental and theoretical tools that will make it possible to achieve a deeper understanding of materials properties, from electron holography to thermodynamics at the nanoscale.
Why Nanoscience & Materials at ASU ?
ASU is one of the few institutions worldwide where a true interdisciplinary critical mass has been achieved for materials research, with more than 100 faculty members scattered across departments and colleges working together on diverse nano-science and materials physics projects. Large-scale facilities for materials synthesis, nano-fabrication, ion-beam scattering, electron-microscopy, diffraction-physics, optical spectroscopy, and supercomputing are available on campus.
In particular, ASU is the world’s leading university in the field of sub-angstrom resolution electron microscopy, and will soon be home to the first table-top free electron laser for materials research. Students find that most materials science facilities they need to pursue their research are available on campus, and that each of these facilities are used by other students and faculty members who can provide the key insights to advance any project.
Bennett works in experimental surface science to study ultra-thin films and self-assembled nanostructures.
Chamberlin is interested in the internal response of condensed matter. For example, we want to understand how the magnetization inside a material relaxes as a function of time after removing an applied field.
Culbertson's interests include Physics and Society.
Drucker is a professor with interests in nanoscience and materials physics. His research group performs experimental and theoretical research to better understand the atomistic mechanisms of crystal growth on surfaces.
Erten is a condensed matter theorist. He obtained his doctorate at The Ohio State University in 2013 and has worked at Rutgers University and Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems before joining ASU.
Graves' interests focus on a new type of x-ray light source based on the collision of extremely short electron and laser pulses.
Hariadi's interests include the biological physics of molecular machines, mechanobiology, ultra-sensitive diagnostics, and the origins of life.
Kaindl, director of the Beus CXFEL Laboratory at ASU's Biodesign Institute, has more than two decades of experience in quantum materials and ultrafast science.
Karkare's research is at the interface of accelerator physics and nano-science.
Liu's interests are in nanoscience and materials physics.
McCartney's research interests include nanoscience and material physics.
Menéndez leads a research program on the physics of semiconductor materials.
Nemanich's research group has applied advanced microscopy and spectroscopy techniques to characterize the growth and properties of thin film interfaces and nanostructures.
Peng's expertise is in first principles density-functional theory calculations and material science.
Ponce's current interest is in the understanding of the materials properties of III-V nitrides, and their correlation to growth and to device performance for solid state lighting.
Qing is a joint assistant professor of the Department of Physics, and the Center of Bioelectronics and Biosensors in the Biodesign Institute. He is also a member of the Center of Biological Physics at ASU.
Rez's background is in the theory of electron scattering as applied to electron microscopy and analysis. His studies include the development of electron energy loss spectroscopy and the microstructure of kidney stones.
Ros' research interests are in experimental biophysics and nanoscience.
Botana's research employs density functional theory to direct the computational design of materials with novel functionalities.
Schmidt's interests include quantum Monte Carlo, many-particle theory, nuclear physics, cold atoms, and femtosecond pulse X-ray scattering.
Singh's research focuses on accelerating materials discovery, synthesis and application using first-principles computation.
Smith specializes in the development, applications, and advancement of atomic-resolution electron microscopy.
Sukharev's research interests include computational nano-optics; coherent control, and physics of light-matter interaction in strong and ultra-strong coupling regimes.
Treacy received his PhD in physics from Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge in 1979. His interests are: modeling hypothetical zeolite frameworks; the study of disordered materials by Fluctuation Microscopy.
Weierstall is working on bio-sample delivery methods for X-ray Free Electron Lasers and Synchrotrons. He is a member of the NSF BioXFEL Science and Technology Center.
John M. Cowley Center for High Resolution Electron Microscopy
As a global leader in high resolution electron microscopy, ASU plays an important role characterizing critical properties of materials. This facility houses a dozen electron microscopes that can probe the physical, electronic and chemical structure of matter on an atomic scale. Instruments & techniques include Ion Milling; Electron Microprobe; Scanning Electron Microscopy; Transmission Electron Microscopy; Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy; and Aberration Corrected Electron Microscopy.
