We
form one part of the Condensed
Matter Physics Group at Physics
Department, Panjab University,
Chandigarh.
Uptil recent
past, this group has devoted significant effort on
understanding harmonic and anharmonic
effects in simple, molecular and complex
solids. Codes were developed in early
eighties to compute phonon line widths and
shifts in molecular crystals. Experiments
using inelastic neutron scattering were also
carried out to measure the temperature
dependence of phonon profiles and
correlating these with theoretical models
for organic molecular crystals. Study of
micellar systems using Small Angle Neutron
Scattering Experiments leading to shear
induced organization and decay of rod-like
mi-cells was carried out.
Since recently, we have been
involved in areas of research, like modeling
structure and dynamics of doped and undoped
carbon cluster solids, fullerene solids,
carbon nanotubes and nanoparticales, simple
and organic molecular crystals. We also
study anharmonic effects, and energy flow in
materials under high static and dynamic
pressure.
Experimental activities
involve irradiation of thin
film samples to heavy and swift ions and
characterizing them, working on methods to
produce carbon nanotubes.
Fullerene Solids and
Nanotubes:
Using theoretical model potentials, we have
accounted for bulk, structural, lattice
dynamical, thermodynamical and electronic
properties of pure and doped C60 solids and pure C70 solids and
carbon nanotubes. This has also helped in
studying phase transformations under high
pressure and temperature in these
materials. We are studying structure of
carbon nanotubes under high pressures to
determine their structure and any
modifications. We have also studied
structural modifications of thin film of C60 under high energy (~100 MeV) high fluence
heavy ions. Similar attempts are being made
to study thin films of CNT.
Very
recently, we investigate heterofullerenes and polynitrogen clusters
inside fullerene cage and use abinitio calculations to study electronic and
structural properties.
free web counter
|
