Research

We investigate the quantum interaction between electromagnetic radiation (photons and neutrons) with the condensed and soft matter at the nanoscale.

To this end, we are interested in developing novel optical metrology (lens-less microscopy, coherent diffraction imaging with photons at synchrotrons and XFELs) and neutron scattering techniques to probe spatial and temporal dynamics due to competing charge-, spin-, orbital and lattice degree of freedoms at the nanoscale. Applications of our research include Magneto-electric based nano-mechanical oscillators, sensing, quantum photonics, Magneto-electric conversion of optical energy to electricity, transparent ceramics and biomimetics.  We also focus on training the next generation of innovative students/scientists. We aim to foster an environment that is conducive to learning, creativity, and personal development.

Our group is broadly engaged in the study of the structure and dynamics of condensed matter using the techniques of optical, x-ray and neutron scattering. For this purpose, we use in-house x-ray sources and diffractometers, Optical Metrology, while most of our studies require an intensity that can only be provided at synchrotron sources and XFELs.