Condensed Matter Physics at UNSW, Sydney, Australia

People

Academic Staff and Research Fields

Professor Michael Gal MSc. PhD. E.L.Bud. FAIP, IEEE
An important research topic in modern condensed matter physics concerns the optical properties of low-dimensional semiconductors, such as quantum wells and quantum dots. Much of my current research activities are directed toward these topics using a range of experimental techniques, which include photoluminescence spectroscopy, modulation spectroscopy and ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy. The scope of the research covers the basic properties of low dimensional semiconductor structures as well as more applied investigations into semiconductor light sources, photonic crystals, etc.

Professor Alex Hamilton BSc. London, PhD. Cambridge, ARC Professorial Fellow
My research is in the field of quantum effects in nanometre scale electronic devices at ultra-low temperatures. My work covers all aspects of Quantum Electronics , from the fabrication of nanometre scale quantum semiconductor devices, through to the study of quantum electronics and quantum phase transitions at ultra-low temperatures. In particular I am interested in the properties of nanoscale semiconductor devices in which holes carry the electrical current, as these offer possibilities for spin manipulation and control that are not possible with conventional electron devices. http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/QED/

Associate Professor Adam Micolich BSc. PhD. UNSW, ARC Future Fellow
My research interests can be divided into three areas: (1) Organic Electronics and PDMS elastomer stamp device fabrication techniques (2) GaAs Nanodevices: I work closely with Professor Hamilton on the development of p-type GaAs nanoscale transistors, and the study of their low-temperature electronic properties. (3) Fractals in electronics and nature: I have an active interest in the study of fractal conductance fluctuations in GaAs quantum dots, which was the subject of my Ph.D. studies at UNSW (1996-2000). I am also involved in a joint project with Prof. Richard Taylor’s group at the University of Oregon investigating the fractal content of abstract paintings produced by the American artist Jackson Pollock.

Professor Richard Newbury BSc. L’pool, D.Phil. Sussex
My research concerns the electronic properties of sub-micron or mesoscopic devices, especially semiconductor devices. Quantum effects become appreciable, or dominate electronic behaviour, and the statistical-mechanical averaging that describes the properties of traditional semiconductor devices breaks down at this length scale. Mesoscopic semiconductor nanostructures, carbon nanotubes and bio-molecular systems, for example, exhibit phenomena of considerable pure (fundamental) scientific interest; but this research area also has technological implications, due to the continuing miniaturisation of commercial devices with design features rapidly approaching few-atomic-layer dimensions. Low temperatures (~millikelvin), strong magnetic fields (~17T) and applied hydrostatic pressure are used to probe electronic behaviour in these systems.

Dr Peter Reece BSc, PhD. UNSW
Peter received a BSc (Hons 1) in medical physics in 1998 and a PhD on mesoporous silicon photonics in 2005, both from the University of New South Wales. After completing his postgraduate studies he spent three years as postdoctoral researcher working on optical micromanipulation and biophotonics at the University of St Andrews in the United Kingdom. Peter has recently returned to the Optoelectronics Group to take up a UNSW Vice Chancellor’s Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship. Peter’s current interests include (but are not limited to) silicon photonics, optical biosensors, optical trapping, biophotonics and optofluidics.

Professor Michelle Y. Simmons BSc. Phys., BSc. Chem., PhD Durham, ARC Federation Fellow, FAAS
Professor Michelle Y. Simmons is the Director of the Atomic Fabrication Facility and a Federation Fellow at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. She was a co-founder of the Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Technology. In 2005 she was awarded the Pawsey Medal and in 2006 became one of the youngest elected Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science. Her research interests are to build electronic devices at the atomic-scale and understand quantum behaviour in mesoscopic semiconductors.

Associate Professor Marion A. Stevens-Kalceff BSc. (ANU), PhD (UNSW)
The physical, optical and electronic properties of technologically important materials are strongly influenced by their defect structure. Advanced Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy techniques enable the defect structures of wide band gap materials (including III-V semiconductors, silicon dioxide, silicon, diamond, and nanostructured variants of these materials), to be characterized with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution facilitating optimum device design. This research is supported by an excellent range of versatile micro-analytical equipment. http://srv.emunit.unsw.edu.au/

Associate Professor Clemens Ulrich, BSc., PhD (MPI Stuttgart)
The main topics of my research are strongly correlated electron systems like unconventional superconductors or transition metal oxides. Of special interest are the effects of spin, charge, and orbital correlations in 3-dimensional perovskite systems with partly occupied 3d-electronic levels. My research uses experimental techniques drawing on the OPAL nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights (inelastic neutron scattering, resonant inelastic x-ray scattering) and my Raman laboratories at the University of NSW.

Research Staff
Dr Adam Burke	Quantum Electronic Devices
Dr Warrick Clarke	Atomic Fabrication Facility
Dr William Chun To Lee	Atomic Fabrication Facility
Dr Oleh Klochan	Quantum Electronic Devices
Dr Suddhasatta Mahapatra	Atomic Fabrication Facility
Dr Giordano Scappucci	Atomic Fabrication Facility
Dr Zach Keane	Quantum Electronic Devices
Postgraduate Research Students

Yael Augarten	Optical Spectroscopy of Solids Supervisor: Prof M. Gal
Huw Campbell	Atomistic Modelling of Nanoscale Devices in Silicon Supervisor: Prof M. Simmons
Jason Chen	Quantum transport in GaAs nanostructures Supervisor: Prof A. Hamilton
Sebastian Fricke	Spin physics in GaAs nanostructures Supervisor: A/Prof A. Micolich
Martin Fuechsle	Experimental Condensed Matter Physics Supervisor: Prof M. Simmons
Lap-Hang Ho	Experimental Condensed Matter Physics Supervisor: A/Prof A. Micolich
Suhrawardi Ilyas	Optical Spectroscopy Supervisor: Prof M. Gal
Katie Levick	Nano-characterisation Supervisor: A/Prof M. Stevens-Kalceff
Sarah McKibbin	Towards 3D integration of silicon nanoelectronics patterned by scanning probe microscopy Supervisor: Prof M. Simmons
Khalid Muhieddine	Experimental Condensed Matter Physics Supervisor: A/Prof A. Micolich
Wilson Pok	Making Atomic Scale Devices in Silicon Using Scanning Probe Microscopy and Molecular Beam Epitaxy Supervisor: Prof M. Simmons
Craig Polley	Atomically Precise Transistors in Silicon Supervisor: Prof M. Simmons
Andrew See	Semiconductor Quantum Dots Supervisor: A/Prof A. Micolich
Ashwin Srinivasan	Hole nanoelectronics Supervisor: Prof A. Hamilton
Rifat Ullah	Semiconductor Nanowires Supervisor: A/Prof A. Micolich
Fan Wang	Semiconductor Nanowires Supervisors: Dr. P. Reece and A/Prof A. Micolich
LaReine Yeoh	Hole nanoelectronics Supervisor: Prof A. Hamilton

Undergraduate Research Students

Cécile Héraudeau	Exchange Prakticum from Ecole Centrale Paris Supervisor: Prof A. Hamilton
Max Williams	Nanowires Supervisor: A/Prof A. Micolich
Matt Godfrey	Physics Honours Supervisor: Prof A. Hamilton
David Waddington	Physics Honours Supervisor: A/Prof A. Micolich
Daisy Wang	Physics Honours Supervisor: Prof A. Hamilton

Research Staff