Department of Experimental Solid State Physics

Department of Experimental Solid State Physics

Department leader

Éva Kováts

The main activity of the Department of Experimental Solid State Physics is the synthesis of new materials, determining their atomic structure and measuring their different physical properties. The aim of this research is to obtain advanced materials and understand the details of the relationship between their structure and their properties. This is a discovery-motivated research, which blends together experimental and computer physics, the material- and the method-based approach and traditional and cutting edge research directions. The range of materials examined is greatly varied: metallic nanoparticles, thin films, fullerens, nanotubes, metal-organic networks and protein solutions. Research techniques include X-ray diffraction, NMR, Mössbauer and optic spectroscopy. Computational physics is another strength of the department. We carry out mathematical and numerical modelling of complex solidification patterns and processes on advanced materials such as colloid systems, metals, polymers, meta-materials and biomorph crystal aggregates. Recently, we have also resolved important problems of XFEL one-particle imaging and we are planning to actively participate in these measurements in the future.

Non-equilibrium alloys

n our group, we study alloys of metallic systems that are far from the classical steady state. These systems are interesting for solid state physics research, since phases of components whose properties we did not know before can now be studied. These systems are of particular interest to practical applications and, consequently, to materials science, since several non-steady phases have excellent magnetic, mechanic and corrosion properties.

Structure research laboratory

The laboratory studies three fields of research. The primary research direction of X-ray techniques is the discovery of the atomic structure of solids using diverse diffraction techniques and developing new methods for examining structures (e.g. X-ray holography). The Computational Material Science group uses computer simulation to study crystal nucleation processes. The Chemical synthesis and vibration techniques group produces and studies carbon nanostructures using different optical spectroscopy techniques.