Advanced Materials and Devices
Theory Group
Our group works on cutting edge problems in the broad areas of condensed matter and materials physics.
Computational methods based on atomistic and finite element methods are used and developed to investigate properties of novel materials and devices. We are also engaged with analytical theories for modeling novel quantum processes.
Our focus is on emerging problems in transport, light-matter phenomena, and energy applications.
The Great American Teach-In at Webb Middle School in Fall 2024
Our Postdoc, Dr. Dai-Nam Le was invited to participate in this outreach event to promote Physics to middle school students in the Tampa Bay area. His visit was a great success. We are very proud of him!
New Book Published:
Contemporary Quantum Mechanics in Practice: Problems and Solutions,
L. M. Woods and P. Rodriguez Lopez (2024, Cambridge University Press)
Paper in Nano Lett. (2026)
In this collaborative paper we provide an alternative magnetic Casimir-effect pathway to reversibly tune quantum electromagnetic forces at the nanoscale for the assembly and enhancement of colloidal stability.
Paper in Phys. Rev. Lett. (2026)
Here we make the unique proposal that fluctuation-induced interactions driven by acoustic phonons are possible and that they can compete with traditional electromagnetic interactions.
Paper in Phys. Rev. B (2026)
This comprehensive study examines how steady-state drift currents affect ubiquitous fluctuation-induced interactions between graphene sheets. Analytical results show useful asymptotics for distance and drift velocity dependences.
Paper in Phys. Rev. Materials (2026)
This collaborative research demonstrates quantum trapping in magnetic fluids due to Casimir interactions: unique role of transverse electric and transverse magnetic modes
Paper in J. Phys. Chem. Solids (2026)
Here, tunable interface magnetism between two nonmagnetic materials, V2O5 and transition metal dichalcogenides, is demonstrated!
Paper in Phys. Rev. B (2025)
In this paper, we show a comprehensive DFT simulations of twisted h-BN bilayers covering a wide range of twist angles establishing a systematic base line of registry-dependent relations
Paper in Comp. Phys. Communications (2025)
A new cost-effective approach that relies on a Wannier function representation compatible with density function theory descriptions to compute van der Waals interactions
Paper in J. Phys. Chem. Lett. (2025)
This is a comprehensive study of radiative heat exchange in the family of transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers in their H- and T-symmetries showing emerging trends in terms of materials properties and distance dependences.