Order and Disorder in Novel Materials and Small Structures

This research focuses on using micro- and nano-fabrication techniques to control and measure the thermal, magnetic and electronic properties of systems.

The goal is to study the fundamental physics of new materials and apply this knowledge for new technologies. Recent fundamental work is focused on electronic, magnetic or vibrational states of amorphous solids.

Current emphasis is on two areas of research:

• measuring thermal transport and thermopower of thin films and nanostructures from 300 mK to above 300 K;
• studying new physics and new applications of high resolution microcalorimeter x-ray and gamma-ray detectors.