Research
The Physics Department has a diverse research program that continues a long tradition of cutting-edge investigations into fundamental and applied physical phenomena. Undergraduates and graduate students regularly work alongside research faculty, their staff, and Ph.D. students, gaining access to the latest instrumentation and theoretical tools.
Many of our faculty are members of the Physics Program at the CUNY Graduate Center. Admission as a Ph.D. student is handled by the Graduate Center (GC); for more details, see our department page and the CUNY GC admissions pages.
The research carried out by Brooklyn College's physics faculty can be divided into four broad areas (relevant faculty are listed after each heading):
- Experimental Condensed Matter (Boutis, Nakarmi, Sandeman, Shum, Suarez)
- Theoretical Condensed Matter (Giovambattista, Sahni)
- Environmental Science (Tomkiewicz)
- Materials Modeling (Sandeman, Tung)
Gregory Boutis
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance with applications in ordered and disordered solids and biophysics
Gregory Boutis is an experimental physicist with expertise in magnetic resonance. His research group has focused largely on experimental studies of biological polymers such as elastin and silk. On occasion they have also done experimental and theoretical work on many-body quantum spin systems (e.g., studies of spin diffusion in a rigid lattice, spin counting). Research in his laboratory has been supported by NIH SCORE and PSC-CUNY funding. The Boutis group may provide consulting expertise in all aspects of magnetic resonance(diffusion, spectroscopy, pulse sequence development)-please email us if you have interests.
High resolution TEM image near the interface of AlN and sapphire substrate. Inset: Plan-view Diffraction pattern of AlN
Mim Lal Nakarmi
Development of semiconductor materials for photonic applications
Professor Nakarmi’s research interests are the development of semiconductor materials and study their electrical transport, optical and structural properties of the materials. Primary focus of the materials is the semiconductors for photonic applications in ultraviolet (UV) spectral region such as LEDs and detectors. He has developed a Hall-effect measurement system that can operate from 20 to 800 K to study the transport properties of wide bandgap semiconductors. For the structural properties, laboratory has atomic force microscopy (AFM), and access to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). They have recently developed a deep UV photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy system by coupling a third harmonic and a fourth harmonic generators with the Coherent Ti:sapphire laser to produce 266 nm and 195 nm laser output for optical excitation. For detection system, it has 750 nm monochromator with PMT and photon detector from Princeton Scientific.
Research lab will soon operate a commercial Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) system for materials growth. Prof. Nakarmi has been conducting several collaborative research projects. Currently ongoing projects are resonant optical studies of GaAs/AlGaAs multiple quantum wells, optical and defect studies of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), eletro-optical properties of multiferroic materials, and optical electrical properties of ZnO.
Quantal Density Functional Theory (2004); Quantal Density Functional Theory II (2010); Quantal Density Functional Theory, Second Edition (2016); Schrödinger Theory of Electrons: New Perspectives (2020)
Viraht Sahni
Atomic, Molecular, and Condensed Matter Theory
My research interests involve the development and application of theoretical methods within quantum mechanics for the study of the electronic structure of matter, both natural and human made: atoms, molecules, solids (metals); two- and three-dimensional ‘artificial atoms’ or quantum dots, and such (Wigner) molecules. The most recent research is on a new description of Schrödinger and Schrödinger-Pauli theory -- the foundational theories of electronic structure -- which leads to deeper insights into the quantum system. Further, quantum theory is thereby made tangible in the rigorous classical sense. A book on the new perspectives is in progress. Other recent work involves the continuing development of a new local effective potential theory referred to as Quantal Density Functional Theory. This theory, in conjunction with the Schrödinger and Schrödinger-Pauli theories, then leads to additional properties of matter which cannot be obtained by the latter original theories. Three research monographs on Quantal Density Functional Theory, intended for graduate students and researchers, have been published.
Karl Sandeman
Phase Transition Group (PTG)
We explore phase transitions in so-called functional materials for either the efficient use of energy, such as in refrigeration, or its efficient conversion, such as in power generation. Our work requires an understanding of the relationship between structure and function at all length-scales and a holistic research approach that combines experimental and theoretical tools, often resulting in fundamental discoveries. We benefit from collaborations with: a range of crystal growers in Europe and the USA; scientists employing diffraction techniques at national laboratories (Oak Ridge, Argonne, Brookhaven National Lab); advanced characterization experts; and materials modelers. Highlights of our work include: the discovery of giant magneto-elasticity in a noncollinear antiferromagnet; the successful prediction of piezomagnetism in antiferromagnetic antiperovskites and the first demonstration of giant barocaloric effects in spin crossover materials.
Sophia Suarez
Materials Research Laboratory (MRL)
The role of electrical energy storage and conversion devices (such as batteries and supercapacitors) in our everyday lives has increased tremendously over the last few decades. This is due mostly to the abundance of mobile consumer electronics. One of the most important determinants in the efficient operation of these electronics is how well the energy storage/conversion device works. While many factors affect the efficient operation of these devices, how well the working ions move between their electrodes is one of the most important and the focus of the Materials Research Laboratory. We characterize fundamentally the mobilities of these ions and other mobile species at the microscopic and macroscopic levels. We determine the ions’ important interactions and how these affect their mobilities using techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. We apply stimuli such as changing temperatures and pressures in our experiments, to decipher the effect of both energy and density and in doing so, we get a deeper understanding of how the devices can be improved.
Lognormal distribution of global country contributions to carbon intensity
Micha Tomkiewicz
Climate Change
Our objective: understanding climate change requires understanding the World on a level of sovereign states and government levels. These are the decision makers.
Projects:
- Global parametrization independent of socio-economic conditions:
- Parametrization of intensive parameters based on international databases such as the World Bank.
- Lognormal normal distribution of energy intensities and carbon intensities
- Game Theory Applications of Climate Change
- Generalization of Prisoners Dilemma to competition between economic development and emission played by states.
- Environmental Kuznetz curves – Real and Imaginary.
- Applications to game theory adaptations.
- Experimental verification of environmental Kuznetz curve
GaAs/ZnSe Heterojunctions
Raymond Tung
Semiconductor Interfaces
Research focuses on theoretical understanding of the formation of band offset at semiconductor and oxide heterojunctions and the formation of Schottky barrier height at metal-semiconductor interfaces. First-principles calculations of the electronic structure of large supercells comprising such heterojunction interfaces are conducted on high performance computer clusters using density functional theory and employing a variety of functionals. Results obtained thus far have demonstrated the inappropriateness of widely quoted models based on the charge neutrality level, and have instead pointed to the critical importance of local charge density symmetry in successful explanation of the formation of band offset.
