Our research group currently works on the design and fabrication of transparent polycrystalline materials for laser and scintillation applications. It involves:
- Preparation of nanoparticles
- Solid-state chemistry and sintering science
- Optical and spectroscopic studies
- Lasers and scintillator physics
Click on the links or images below to read more about our current projects. To read about the fundamentals upon which our research is based, click >>here<<.
Program focus: development of fundamental relationships between crystal structure, chemistry and the non-proportionality of response in scintillator materials used for nuclear and radiological detectors.The ultimate goal is to produce algorithms for making materials design more systematic and successful.
(Funded by the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office)
Control of Grain Boundaries and Defects in Nano-engineered Transparent Scintillator Ceramics
Program focus: studies on the effect of ceramic microstructure and defects, such as grain boundaries and pores, on the scintillation behavior of materials used in nuclear detector applications, and control of these lattice and grain boundary defects to improve performance.
(Funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency)
Program focus: fabrication of transparent polycrystalline materials (ceramics) for high-energy laser applications. Materials of interest include: garnets, rare-earth oxides, and spinel materials.
(Funded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research)
Other laboratory activities include: crystal growth, phase equilibria studies, nanoparticle synthesis, and laser scattering tomography.