OVERVIEW
We examine nanostructures of magnetic materials with anomalous magnetoresistance effects, spin injection, spin-polarized transport, and spintronic devices; superconductivity; topological insulators; and epitaxial growth of magnetic and superconducting oxide thin films and heterostructures.
MAGNETIC FILMS AND NANOSTRUCTURES
The focus in this area is on materials exhibiting colossal magnetoresistance (we have found an unusually large low field magnetoresistance effect for strained manganite ultrathin films and nanobridges) and large anisotropic magnetoresistance, and spin-polarized tunneling in magnetic oxide tunnel junction devices.
NOVEL OXIDE THIN FILMS
The goal of this project is to study the growth and electrical, magnetic, thermoelectric, and nonlinear properties of oxide thin films and multilayer structures. The emphasis is on functional materials that show unusual properties. The applications of such devices are also explored.
SPIN INJECTION
Research in this area involves spin injection into non-magnetic systems with the goal of studying the effect of non-equilibrium spins on various physical properties and spin diffusion, which is an important concept in spintronics.
SUPERCONDUCTORS
This project studies various multiband effects in the new (Tc ~ 40 K) MgB2 superconductor with varying degrees of scattering.
TOPOLOGICAL INSULATORS
The focus of this research is on new transport phenomena in topologically insulating thin films and nanostructures. The sample fabrication involves contact photolithography and focused ion beam deposition. Measurements are conducted in high fields at low temperature.