2D Materials & Nanomechanics
Our group has demonstrated that we can actively “tune” the mechanical stiffness (Young’s modulus) of 2D membranes like WS₂. By using gate voltages to engineer strain, we can create flexible NEMS and tunable quantum transducers.
Mid-infrared (MIR) imaging lies in the molecular fingerprint region, enabling highly selective chemical detection for applications in sensing and imaging. However, conventional systems rely on cryogenically cooled detectors and complex readout circuits, limiting scalability and cost-effectiveness.
Integrated Photonics & Optomechanics
Our group develops cavity optomechanical systems that use radiation pressure within high-Q optical cavities to control and measure nanoscale mechanical vibrations. By specializing in advanced materials like lithium niobate and silicon carbide, they leverage unique electro-optic and thermal properties to explore quantum effects in macroscopic systems. Their work facilitates innovations in precision sensing, signal processing, and quantum technologies through robust, low-loss resonator platforms.
MEMS/NEMS Resonators & Dynamics
We study how individual resonators can be synchronized into networks to emulate artificial spin states. This work bridges the gap between mechanical hardware and new forms of physics-inspired computing.
We investigate the “Quality Factor” (Q) to understand how energy is lost in vibrating systems. By engineering these losses, we can create ultra-sensitive sensors and stable signal sources for quantum and classical applications.
As part of the DARPA NIMBUS program, we are building “SNITCH” resonators designed for next-gen inertial sensing. By using 4H-SiC, we are pushing mechanical velocities beyond 200 m/s.+2
Mechanical resonators can be thought of as tiny clocks and amplifiers for motion, and their quality factor (Q) determines how long a vibration persists before dissipation erases it.
Lamb waves are elastic waves that travel through thin plates, involving motion through the full thickness of the material. Lamb wave resonators use these waves in thin piezoelectric films—typically aluminum nitride (AlN) or lithium niobate (LiNbO₃)—patterned with metal electrodes to create a mechanical resonance at a desired frequency.
Advanced Materials for Computing
Our lab engineers novel materials like Aluminum Scandium Nitride (AlScN) to overcome the energy and performance bottlenecks of traditional, separate-memory architectures. By harnessing atomic-level properties like ferroelectricity, they integrate AlScN into capacitors and transistors to enable scalable, non-volatile, in-memory computing. These advancements provide the foundation for faster, more efficient hardware designed to meet the high-performance demands of modern AI and edge computing.
Emerging MEMS & Applied Physics
Our lab creates anchor-free, levitated mechanical systems that eliminate physical contact to achieve unprecedented stability. By floating graphite platforms above magnets, we can study motion with nearly zero energy dissipation.
We have successfully demonstrated AlScN, GaN, and SiC resonators that maintain stable performance at temperatures exceeding 800°C and 1000°C. These devices are engineered to survive repeated thermal cycling for aerospace and energy industries.
Our research focuses on developing and understanding MEMS devices capable of operating in extreme environments. In particular, I study piezoelectric MEMS resonators, microphones, and pressure sensors based on AlN and AlScN materials.
Our lab has significantly advanced the understanding of radiation-material interactions in MEMS and NEMS. The lab has examined how gamma rays, protons, heavy ions, and ion-induced displacement damage affects the structural integrity and resonant performance of advanced materials and devices.