Andrew MacFarlane
Profile
Research and Teaching Interests
Interests: Electronic and magnetic properties of crystalline solids, especially strongly correlated materials such as the cuprate high temperature superconductors.
Techniques: Magnetic Resonance, ß-detected NMR and NQR, muon spin rotation, conventional solid state NMR...
Research: Synthesis of thin solid films (typically transition metal oxides) and heterostructures via Pulsed Laser Deposition and other means. Analysis of local magnetic properties in thin films and near interfaces with ßNMR. Synthesis of nanostructured solids, such as arrays of noble metal nanoparticles.
In ßNMR one detects the nuclear magnetic resonance of a ß-radioactive nucleus via the decay products, megavolt energy electrons. Such a signal is easy to detect, and, combined with the high nuclear polarization obtained by optical pumping prior to implantation, this yields an enormously higher signal per spin than conventional NMR. In fact one typically uses a few million nuclei for a measurement, instead of 1020 in a typical NMR experiment. One can thus make some kinds of measurements which are inconceivable with conventional NMR such as the NMR in thin films a few to tens of nanometers thick. On this lengthscale, there are many interesting phenomena which can be measured with such a probe. In ßNQR, one uses the splitting of the nuclear spin states by the interaction of the nuclear spin with the local value of the electric field gradient in a crystal for example. One can then use this as a sensitive local probe of the charge distribution in the vicinity.
I have an ongoing program in ßNMR. I also have a program on the synthesis and characterization of thin films of oxides and other materials at AMPEL using pulsed laser deposition, spectroscopic ellipsometry and many other techniques.
I am actively recruiting highly motivated graduate students in either Chemistry or Physics. Send me an email if you are interested in discussing potential projects.
I am a member of the UBC Quantum Matter Institute, and the NSERC CREATE programmes called IsoSIM, please see those webpages for other opportunities for graduate and undergraduate research. Undergrads interested in research projects with me should also consult the TRIUMF summer student programme website.
Contact
Curriculum Vitae
B.Sc., University of Victoria (1990); Ph.D., University of British Columbia (R.F.Kiefl, 1997); NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow (H.Alloul, Orsay 1997-1999); Postdoctoral Fellow (L.Taillefer, Toronto 1999-2001); Research Associate (TRIUMF, 2001).