PCM

Role of Electric fields in interfacial phase-change memory

The effect of an applied electric field on reconstruction in prototype structures of Interfacial Phase-Change is explored using ab-initio molecular dynamics and density-functional theory

Density-Functional Theory

ab-initio calculations of material properties, structure, and dynamics.

Ultrafast Dynamics

Using lasers and x-rays to probe ultrafast dynamics.

Electronic excitation-induced semiconductor-to-metal transition in monolayer MoTe₂

A density-functional theory study demonstrating the existence of a metastable optical-excited phase of MoTe2 suggesting that ultrafast switching is possible in monolayer MoTe2

Cr-Triggered Local Structural Change in Cr₂Ge₂Te₆ Phase Change Material

An x-ray absorption study of the amorphous to crystalline tranformation in the phase-change alloy Cr₂Ge₂Te₆.

Sub-nanometre resolution of atomic motion during electronic excitation in phase-change materials

A free-electron laser study of sub-picosecond optical excitation-induced dynamics in the prototypical phase-change alloy Ge2Sb2Te5

Phase-Change Materials

Materials whose structure is used for storage.

Structure of Amorphous Materials

Using synchrotron radiation to probe amorphous structure.

Photo-assisted amorphization of the phase-change memory alloy

A time-resolved x-ray absorption experiment indicating photo-assisted amorphization in Ge₂Sb₂Te₅.

Understanding the phase-change mechanism of rewritable optical media

A synchrotron-based x-ray absorption study that directly measures the local structure of the amorphous and crystalline phases of the prototypical phase-change alloys Ge2Sb2Te5.