Magnetic and electronic properties of disordered photonic crystals, density functional theory, geophysical systems, kinetic glass transition of amorphous materials, physics of nonlinear composites, plasmonics, dynamic ER effects in complex fluids, quantum spin systems, interacting electron-phonon systems, fermion systems, nonlinear optical properties of conjugated organic molecules and semiconductor nanostructures, bosons in confining potentials, spin dynamics in semiconductor nanostructures, topological effects in condensed matters.
(Toby K.T. Lai | Z.C. Gu | S.K. Goh | P.M. Hui | T. Lan | W.H. Leong | Q. Li | Y.F. Li | R.B. Liu | X.H. Lu | J.F. Wang | L. Xu | Y.Q. Yan | J.Y. Zhu)
Motivated by the puzzle of high-temperature superconductors, strongly correlated electron
systems still remain a open question and the field is ongoing. People are searching for new physics beyond the paradigm
of Landau-Fermi liquid of metals and BCS theory of superconductivity. Our current research is focused on the exactly
solvable models of strongly correlated systems and exotic quantum liquids, e.g. Luttinger liquid and quantum spin
liquid. We also study unconventional or topological superconductors emerging from strongly correlated electron systems.
(J.J. Miao)
Spectroscopic methods are used to probe the electronic structures of semiconductors. Artificially structured materials are prepared and their novel optical properties studied.
(Q. Li | R.B. Liu | X.H. Lu | Daniel H.C. Ong | D.J. Wang)
Study of strongly correlated electron systems of topical interest (e.g. unconventional superconductors and magnets) under high pressure, high magnetic field and low temperatures. Fermi surface mapping using the de Haas-van Alphen and the Shubnikov-de Haas effects.
(Toby K.T. Lai | S.K. Goh | Z.C. Gu)
Our group uses hydrostatic pressure to tune the properties of quantum materials (e.g. superconductors, topological semimetals etc.), and examines their electronic, magnetic and thermodynamic properties of under low temperatures and high magnetic field. Of particular interest is the usage of quantum oscillations to examine the fermiology and to probe the itinerant electrons of these materials. The research goals include the understanding of the material properties with the electronic structure as the starting point, and to search for new and interesting quantum materials.
(S.K. Goh)
To understand doping mechanisms, investigate electronic structures, and simulate thermal and kinetic processes of doping, density functional theory (DFT) calculations will be applied. Our goals are: investigation of defects and doping of semiconductors and their alloys (InGaN, AlGaP, CZTS, CIGS, SiC, diamond), which are very important solid state lighting, photo voltaic, and information materials. Defects and dopant formation energies and transition energies will be calculated. New strategies of tuning defects and dopants will be proposed.
(Q. Li | J.Y. Zhu)
Tuning surface properties can be critical in thin film growth and device properties. We'll apply DFT calculations and classic molecular dynamics calculations to study surface phenomena. Our goals are: investigating the surface reconstructions, surface passivation, surface diffusion, surfactant effects, surface effects on doping in many different thin films and nano-materials, including CZTS, InGaN, CIGS, AlGaP, diamond, SiC, ScTiO3, various topological insulators and super conductors.
(J.Y. Zhu)
