Alexander Shengelaya

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Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science
at Tbilisi State University Past, Present and
Future Perspectives
Alexander Shengelaya Tbilisi State University,
Georgia
5th Georgian-German Workshop in Basic
Science 6 August 2012
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What is Condensed Matter Physics ?
Condensed matter physics is a branch of physics
that deals with the physical properties of
condensed phases of matter. The most familiar
condensed phases are solids and liquids, while
more exotic condensed phases include the
superconducting phase, the ferromagnetic and
antiferromagnetic phases. The diversity of
systems and phenomena available for study makes
condensed matter physics the most active field of
contemporary physics one third of all American
physicists identify themselves as condensed
matter physicists, and The Division of Condensed
Matter Physics is the largest division of the
American Physical Society. The field overlaps
with chemistry, materials science, and
nanotechnology, and relates closely to atomic
physics and biophysics. Theoretical condensed
matter physics shares important concepts and
techniques with theoretical particle and nuclear
physics.
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Why it is important ?

• Understanding the electrical and magnetic
  properties of solids and liquids is right at the
  heart of modern society and technology.
• For example The entire computer and electronics
  industry relies on tuning of a special class of
  material, the semiconductor.
• New technology for the future will inevitably
  involve developing and understanding new classes
  of materials.

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Discovery of Transistor
Pentium 4 processor in 2002 100 000 000
Transistors
First chip in 1961 1000 Transistors
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Pauli about semiconductors
In 1931 Wolfgang Pauli famously wrote to the
Physicist, Rudolf Peierls Ueber Halbleiter
sollte man nicht arbeiten, das ist eine
Schweinerei, wer weiss, ob es überhaupt
Halbleiter gibt.
One shouldnt work on semiconductors, that is a
filthy mess who knows if they really exist!
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Prof. Elevter Andronikashvili
Elevter Andronikashvili started the experimental
condensed matter physics research at Tbilisi
State University in 1948. In 1950 he founded
Institute of Physics of Georgian Academy of
Science. In 2011 AIP merged Javakhishvili Tbilisi
State University
E. Andronikashvili is internationally recognized
by the physics community after his outstanding
experimental investigations of the superfluidity
of liquid helium.
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Prof. Givi Khutsishvili
Pioneering work on theory of diffusion and
relaxation of nuclear spins in crystals. He
introduced a new phenomenon called spin
diffusion in 1954, which is widely used now in
magnetic resonance. This work is still
significant and is quoted in monographs on the
theory of magnetic resonance in its original
form.
Prof. Khutsishvili made an invaluable
contribution to the education of scientists in
Georgia. Several generations of Georgian
physicists have attended his lectures and
seminars at which they learned the theoretical
foundations of modern physics.
Niels Bohr with wife and son visiting TSU In 1961.
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System for
medical applications.
Superconductivity discovered by H.
Kammerling-Onnes in 1911 a wide range of
applications from the energy to the electronics
sector. MRI includes Superconductivity, Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance, Low temperature Physics,
Mathematics...
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Prof. Tengiz Sanadze
Pioneering experiments in magnetic resonance by
Prof. T. Sanadze in 1960. Building of the first
pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonanse (EPR)
spectrometer. Discovery of the new phenomena of
discrete saturation
This technique is now used in commercial EPR
spectrometers produced by German company BRUKER.
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EPR spectrometer donated by Prof. K. A. Müller
(IBM and University of Zürich) was installed at
TSU in 2006
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Cryogen Free / Liquid Helium Measurement System
was installed in our laboratory October
2009 Temperature range 1.6 300
K Superconducting magnet up to 5 Tesla
Funded by Ministry of Education and Science and
Tbilisi State University
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Cryogenic Center was created at TSU in
2010 Supported by Georgian National Science
Foundation
Liquid Nitrogen Plant
Liquid Helium Plant
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Experiments at Large Scale Facilities
Mainly at Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
SwitzerlandMuon-spin rotation (µSR) Nautron
Scattering (SINQ) Sinchrotron at Swiss Light
Source (SLS)
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Institute of Applied Semiconductor Technologies
at TSU Director Dr. Zaur Chakhnakia
Prof. A. Bibilashvili Dr. N. Khuchua Dr. Z.
Jibuti Dr. N. Dolidze Main Research
directions 1. New type of concentrators for
solar cells. 2. GaAs epitaxial thin film
structures for THz radiation sources. 3.
Development and production of microelectromechanic
al (MEMS) systems. 4. Study of photostimulated
diffusion processes in semiconductors.
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Institute of Applied Semiconductor Technologies
at TSU
CAD-Room with local network (supported by NATO
SfP Project)
Contact litography
Control of technological parameters
Wage bonding
Metal evaporation
Dry etching
Microwave characterization lab
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Condensed Matter Theory at TSU
Prof. Archil Ugulava 1. Nonlinear phenomena and
Quantum chaos. 2. Stochastic processes. 3.
Magnetic clusters.

• Assistant Prof. Tamar Chelidze
• 1. Investigation of luminescence spectra of CdSe
  Nanowires (in collaboration with University
  Norte Dame, USA).

2. Investigation of many body effects in
semiconductor quantum structures. Excitonic
effects is studied in quantum structures of
different type.
3. Investigation of Variable range hopping
conduction in magnetically disordered FeTiO3
epitaxial thin films (in collaboration with
Versailles University, France).
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Andronikashvili Institute of Physics (AIP)
Theoretical experimental study of magnetic
systems Prof. M. Zviadadze, Dr. G.
Mamniashvili Theoretical experimental study of
superconducting systems Dr. A. Gongadze, Dr. S.
Tsakadze, Dr. J. Chigvinadze
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Condensed Matter Theory at AIP
Prof. G. Kharadze and his collaborators Series of
work in Superfluid 3He
Prof. A. Nersesian and his collaborators
Main research interests Strongly correlated
low-dimensional systems. Quantum magnetism.
Quantum spin chains and ladders.   Carbon
nanotubes. Quantum transport in wires and
ladders.   Quantum criticalities and
fractionalized excitations in quantum frustrated
antiferromagnets and fermionic ladders. Majorana
boundary states in spin ladders and
one-dimensional superconductors.   Disorder
effects in two-dimensional electron systems with
Dirac-like spectrum (applications to
high-temperature superconductors). Unconventional
ordered phases in two-dimensional electron
systems (orbital antiferromagnet and spin nematic
states).
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Institute of Condensed Matter Physics and
Advanced Materials Director of Institute Prof.
A. Shengelaya

• Was created at TSU in 2009 to consolidate
  research and teaching activities in this field.
  Includes condensed matter scientists working in
  Georgia as well as abroad.
• Main topics of research
• Macroscopic and microscopic properties of novel
  superconducting and magnetic materials.
• Magnetic nanoparticles and their applications.
• New methods of synthesis of advanced materials.
• Broad international collaborations
• University of Zürich, Switzerland
• ETH Zürich, Switzerland
• Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
• Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research,
  Stuttgart, Germany
• Jülich Research Center, Germany
• University of Versailles, France

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What has been achieved ?
New Bachelor and Masters programs
Selective module in Physics Bachelor program
Applied Physics, which includes Materials
science, Physics on nanoscale, Micro- and
nanoelectronics.
Masters program in Applied Physics, which
includes selective module in Materials science,
Micro- and nanoelectronics.
Masters program in Fundamental physics, which
includes selective module in Condensed Matter
Physics.
Graduate Students Alexander Maisuradze (PostDoc
at the University of Zürich/PSI) Zurab Guguchia
(PhD at the University of Zürich) Zurab
Shermadini (PhD at PSI) Mamuka Chikovani (PhD at
PSI) Giorgi Gambashidze (Candidate for PhD at MPI
Stuttgart) Giorgi Khazaradze (Candidate for PhD
in collaboration with Jülich)
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What has been achieved ?
Upgraded experimental infrastructure (as shown in
previous slides).
At present 4 projects are running at the
Institute of Condensed Matter Physics 1
Project funded by Shota Rustaveli National
Science Foundation. 2 Projects
funded by Swiss National Science Foundation.
1 Project funded by Science and Technology
Center in Ukraine.
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Research Highlights
(selected to be an Editors suggestion)
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Research Highlights
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Research Highlights
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ivane javaxiSvilis saxelobis Tbilisis saxelmwifo
universiteti Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi
State University
International conference celebrating the 80th
birthday of K. A. Müller and the 20th
anniversary of the Nobel prize for the discovery
of high temperature superconductors by J. G.
Bednorz and K. A. Müller
HTSC 2007
High-Temperature Superconductivity in
Cuprates Original Concept and New
Developments October 7-11, Tbilisi, Georgia
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HHigh Temperature Superconductivity
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Future perspectives
Prof. Alex Müller visiting our lab in November
2011 Start of the New Project !
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