Past work
Interaction of energetic particles with matter is a common theme describing processes that occur when accelerated beams of electrons or atomic, molecular and cluster ions interact with the bulk or surface regions of solid and plasma targets. Such processes find technological applications in traditional areas such as materials science, semiconductor fabrication, fusion technology, radiation medicine, and environmental studies.
Recent work
When applied to the nano-meter sized targets, particle beams may be used to produce atomic -scale defects with possible applications for chemical functionalization and formation of nano-composite materials. On the other hand, non-destructive interactions may be realized under channeling conditions, where collimated particle beams can be used as a diagnostic tool for studying the structure of, e.g., bundles of carbon nanotubes. Further studies of particle transport through nanotubes and nanocapillaries may be of interest in bio-medical applications, e.g., for drug delivery. In a somewhat different vein, using Brownian dynamics simulation of interactions among the likely-charged dust particles in plasmas can help understand the mechanisms of dust aggregation and its role in (for example) stellar formation.
Current interests
Investigation into polarization of nano-structures helps understand how electronic transport in these structures is affected by their environment. Such studies are of interest for applications in nano- and micro-electronic devices, as well as in bio-chemical sensors. For example, using electrolytical top-gating can significantly improve the conductivity of graphene and carbon nanotubes for such applications. Moreover, studies of the collective, or plasmon excitations in the nano-meter sized structures are of interest, e.g., for THz electronics applications, and may provide means to realize the sub-wavelength light transmission of interest in nano-photonics.
Research interests
- Dynamic polarization and conductivity of graphene
- Plasmon excitation and transport in carbon nanotubes
- Coulomb explosion of fullerenes and other clusters
- Collective processes in dusty plasmas
