Physics Newsblog

Kamal Dhungana Research

Published
By
Kamal Dhungana Research
Schematic diagram of a fluorinated boron nitride nanotube based spin filter device.

Fluorinated boron nitride nanotube as an ideal spin filter

Advisor: Dr. Ranjit Pati

Understanding the electronic structure and the transport property of nano scale materials is of fundamental importance, since these materials are the ultimate candidates for the future of nano technology. Several nano materials, such as quantum dots, semiconducting nano-wires, and organic molecules, have been explored both theoretically and experimentally as the components of electronic circuitry over the last two decades. Among several interesting nano materials, metal free magnetic nano materials are found to be very enticing due to the presence of magnetism in the absence of magnetic ions. Traditionally, the magnetism comes from partially occupied d and f states in the materials; however, this understanding is not always true since s and p states are found to contribute to the magnetism in the metal free magnetic materials. The main advantage of these materials is their high Curie temperature; as a result, they can be utilized in room temperature spin-electronics (spintronics). Recently, using a first-principles approach, we have demonstrated that the fluorinated boron nitride nanotube (BNNT), which is a metal-free magnetic entity, can be used as an excellent spin filter. All majority spin carriers are almost completely blocked while passing through the fluorinated BNNT channel, allowing only the minority spin carriers to pass. We have shown that the long range ferromagnetic spin ordering in fluorinated BNNTs occurs at a temperature much above room temperature.

For more information, please visit my webpage: http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~kbdhunga

By Kamal B. Dhungana

Reference:

Kamal B. Dhungana, Ranjit Pati, Fluorinated Boron Nitride Nanotube Quantum Dots: A Spin Filter. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2014, 136, 11494–11498. 

Continue Reading →

Interview on “Superior” Supercomputer

Published
By

Computational StructureAny university involved in compute-intensive research would love to have a supercomputer at its disposal. Michigan Technological University is one of the fortunate ones to have a super-fast machine accessible by the entire research community on campus. The computer is known as “Superior” and we sat down with Gowtham S., Director of Research Computing at the University, to hear more about it.

insideHPC: The system’s installation just had its one year anniversary. What are some of the current projects that are harnessing all of this power?

Gowtham S.: Modeling the circulation and particle transport in the Great Lakes system, multi scale modeling of advanced materials and structures, nanostructured materials for electronics, biosensing and human health implications, and unsupervised learning in Big Data and social networks are some of the on going projects that use the power of Superior. Here is the complete listing of all 30 projects.

These projects have produced nearly two dozen publications as well, and several proposals are underway for even more projects. That makes us quite happy.

Read the full interview at insideHPC.

This interview refers to three projects within the Department of Physics.

  • Physics, Johana Chirinos, Investigations in ultra-high-energy cosmic ray physics
  • Physics, Ranjit Pati, Computational study of charge and spin transport in nano-scale junctions from first-principles
  • Physics, Ravindra Pandey, Computational studies of nanostructured materials for electronics, biosensing and human health implications
Continue Reading →

Proposals in Progress for July 14, 2014

Published
By

PI Claudio Mazzoleni (Physics) and Co-PIs Lynn Mazzoleni (Chem), Raymond Shaw (Physics) and Will Cantrell (Physics), “Azores Integrated Measurements (AIM): Free Tropospheric and Marine Boundary Layer Aerosol Properties at the Eastern North Atlantic Permanent ARM Facility and the Pico Mountain Observatory, Azores,” US Department of Energy.

PI Dongyan Zhang (Physics) and Co-PIs Nazmiye Yapici (Physics) and Jim Baker (IEE), “High Brightness Fluorescence Reagents for Biomedical Applications,” NSF.

PI John Diebel (IIE) and Co-PI Yoke Khin Yap (Physics), “High Brightness Fluorescence Biosensors and Chemosensors,” University of Michigan/MIIE.

Read more at Tech Today.

Continue Reading →

In Memoriam: Robert Mount

Published
By
Robert Mount
Robert Mount

Professor Emeritus Robert H. “Bob” Mount, a longtime member of the physics faculty, passed away July 2 at his home in Hancock. He was 86 years old.

Mount came to Michigan Tech in 1954 from Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co., where he was employed as the chief geologist. He retired from the University in 2000. For much of his career, he taught introductory physics courses. “His 46 years of service is the second-longest in department history—the longest being James Fisher,” said physics professor Bryan Suits.

His colleagues remember Mount as health conscious. “His extensive early-morning exercise routine was very important to him,” Suits said. “He would retire early so he could get up at 3 or 4 a.m. to do his workout. Hence, he often passed when it came to attending the department’s evening events—they were past his bedtime.”

Professor Don Beck also remembered his physical fitness—and his motorcycle, which he rode to campus whenever weather permitted. “He was an amiable colleague,” said Beck, “and he had an extensive collection of college-level books that he managed to fit into one of our smallest offices.”

Mount donated most of that collection to the Society of Physics students upon his retirement. “Fourteen years later, those books are still in the undergrad physics room and are consulted and used on a regular basis, sometimes even by grad students and professors,” said Professor Raymond Shaw.

Professor Robert Nemiroff remembers Mount as a cheerful sort, before and after his retirement. “He always seemed in good spirits and had kind words or a humorous story for me, and I would expect for his students as well,” he said.

Mount was also an animal lover with a big heart, said Professor Jacek Borysow. “Bob took all the ugliest dogs from the animal shelter and took care of them,” he said. “I think there were times when he had something like six dogs, and they all had missing legs, ears or tails, and they were very old.”

Mount served in the army at the end of World War II and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and an MS in Geophysics from Michigan Tech.

Bob is survived by his children, Becky, Nancy, Rob and Jeff (Elyssa), and his grandchildren, Rachel and Gabe. He is also survived by his pets, Peppy, Kitsalee, Linky and Mama, his devoted and adoring lap cat.

Mount’s body will be cremated, and no public visitation or service will be held. O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

From Tech Today.

Please feel free to leave comments on your experiences with Bob Mount.

4 Comments Continue Reading →

Associate Professor Huentemeyer Provides Updates on HAWC

Published
By
Petra Huentemeyer
Petra Huentemeyer

Astrophysics Highlights from the APS April Meeting

HAWC Observatory Online
At a press conference, Petra Huentemeyer of Michigan Technological University gave a status update and early results from the High-Altitude Water Chernkov (HAWC) observatory. HAWC will produce a wide-field picture of the universe in TeV gamma rays and cosmic rays. With just one third of its total planned array online, HAWC has already exceeded the sensitivity of its predecessor MILAGRO.

Read more at the American Physical Society News, by Calla Cofield.

Continue Reading →