Condensed Matter Seminar

Physics 593: Fall, 1997

Tuesdays, 10:10 - 11:00 am, Rm B7

Topics in Materials Physics and Chemistry

The applications of physics and chemistry to materials development and improvement are at the heart of the rapid growth in our high technology industries. Applications to digital and analog electronics, transportation, medicine, and the home are obvious. In this seminar we will cover a few of the following topics in the course of the semester:

Applications of lasers to materials processing; Nonlinear optical processes; Femtosecond lasers--ultrafast dynamics.

Thin Film growth and characterization

MEMS -- Micro Electro Mechanical Systems

Scanning Probe Microscopies (STM, AFM, Near-Field Optical Spectroscopy)

Nanoprocessing, Nanotribology

Diamond-like Materials

Intersection of Biology and Physics

New Quantum Devices (e.g., single electron transistors)

Fullerenes

Computer Simulations

Fractals and Chaos

Complex Liquids -- Self Assembly

Adhesion/friction at the molecular scale

This seminar is appropriate for graduate students at all levels in physics, chemistry, and materials science. The topics have strong connections to a number of interesting experiments and important technologies.

Some students are asked to contribute a 50 minute talk on a topic of mutual interest chosen from the above topics or through discussions with faculty.

Questions: Contact T. Dickinson, Dept. of Physics, 509-335-4914,

or email jtd@wsu.edu

 

 

Fall 1996 Topics

 

Introduction

absorption mechanisms, electron and lattice heating, photochemical vs. photothermal effects (inorganics, metals, semiconductors, polymers; chemisorbed species)

Non-linear propagation and light/matter interactions

diffraction, dispersion

solitons, solitary waves

pattern formation

Non-Linear Optical Properties of Polymers

polymer optical fibers

single mode fibers

mechanically influenced properties

Time domain Optical Studies of dynamics in materials (e.g., fs laser applications)

carrier dynamics/relaxation in semiconductors

probing photoexcitations in quantum confined structures

fast photochemistry

Other Topics:

Production of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., x-rays, photoluminescence)

Plume physics and chemistry (e.g., laser-plume interactions, plasma physics)

Particle desorption mechanisms-(e.g., role of defects, excitons, hot-electrons)

Melting and resolidification phenomena (e.g., superheating, instabilities, re-crystallization)

(OVER)

Other Applications:

• etching; surface modification

• CVD

• laser ablation thin film deposition (high Tc’s, ferroelectrics, diamond-like carbon, cubic boron nitride, AlN and TiN, polymers)

• Cluster formation (e.g., buckyballs, nanotubes, metal clusters)

• micro-lithography (uv, x-ray)

• surgery (interaction with tissue and biological molecules)

• vaporization for chemical analysis (e.g., applications to environmental problems)

® mass spectroscopy (including multiphoton non-res. ionization)

® inductively coupled plasmas (both MS and emission spectroscopy)

® fluorescence spectroscopy (including LIF)

® resonance ionization spectroscopy

MALDI

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