Condensed Matter Physics

Condensed Matter Physics explores the macroscopic and microscopic physical properties of matter, especially in its "condensed" solid and liquid phases. It is the largest field of contemporary physics, applying principles from quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, and statistical mechanics to understand how the interactions between many atoms give rise to the emergent properties of materials. Training in condensed matter physics leads to innovative career opportunities in the semiconductor industry, quantum computing, materials science, renewable energy, and many other technology sectors.

The condensed matter physics group at NC A&T uses a combination of experimental, theoretical, and computational methods to discover and characterize novel materials with unique electronic, magnetic, and optical properties, paving the way for next-generation technologies.

Faculty

Joanna Atkin

Dr. Joanna Atkin develops and uses novel optical spectroscopy tools to understand the optical and electronic properties of nano and quantum materials. Her research intersects with chemistry, biology, and engineering, and her group uses a range of computational and experimental tools, including data science and machine learning approaches, to interpret experimental results.

Abede Kebede

Dr. Kebede works in low temperature quantum materials, including the phenomenon superconductivity. His group frequently works with national labs for access to equipment not typically available on university campuses.

Projects

Understanding strain and electronic structure in Ge nanowires

Germanium is a competitor material to silicon for semiconducting applications, with the potential for improvements in processing speed. One challenge is incorporating dopant control and activation. We use Raman spectroscopy to study how the growth process affects strain and dopant distribution in germanium nanowires.