Experimental Materials Physics
Interdisciplinary research programs in materials physics at Michigan are concerned with many issues of current scientific and technological importance. One of the principal themes of our research in this area is the study of low-dimensional and quantum-confined systems ranging from the properties of surfaces and interfaces to the behavior of nanometer-sized quantum structures. The work spans physics, materials science, chemistry, geosciences, electrical engineering, and biology. It is aimed at a thorough understanding of materials growth mechanisms, structural behavior, and novel physical properties resulting from restricted dimensionality. Systems of interest include, for example, nanoscale molecular complexes of interest for delivery of cancer-fighting drugs, MEMS, semiconductor quantum dots, mesoscopic electronic devices, magnetic nanostructures, and particulate laser media. A vast array of materials preparation equipment is available for this research, including several conventional MBE systems, ultrafast laser deposition chambers, electron beam lithography http://www.eecs.umich.edu/ssel/, and ion beam accelerators http://www-ners.engin.umich.edu/labs/plasma/research/melba.htm. Michigan is a pioneer in real-time, in-situ characterization techniques for nanomaterials and several groups have programs utilizing various forms of scanning probe microscopy and high resolution TEM. A university-wide Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory
(EMAL-http://emalwww.engin.umich.edu/emal/emalhomepage.html) provides access to state-of-the-art electron microscopy instrumentation. Michigan also operates a beam line at the Advanced Photon Source x-ray synchrotron radiation facility (http://www.mhatt.aps.anl.gov/). This world-class resource supports many of our structural needs for materials research, including a unique ultrafast diffraction station devoted to femtosecond laser pump-probe measurements and ultrabright focused x-ray beams for 3D microstructure studies.[Projects to include: Brad Orr, R. Clarke, C. Kurdak, R. Goldman, J. Mirecki Millunchick, S. Yalisove, Ron Gilgenbach, P. Pronko, X. Pan, J. Guo, C. Uher, S. Kaviani, S. Rand, + some others]