NSF grant allows important materials research

A WMU team has won a National Science Foundation grant of $621,618, from the Major Research Instrumentation program. Dr. Clem Burns, physics, is the principal investigator and lead on the grant. Also included on the team led by Burns are four Co-PIs: Lisa M. Paulius and Asghar Kayani, physics; Pnina Ari-Gur, mechanical and aerospace engineering; and Ekkehard Sinn, chemistry.

The award will fund the acquisition of Quantum Design - Physical Properties Measurement System. The system is a multipurpose instrument that enables studying advanced materials at a broad range of temperatures (almost absolute zero to 400 K) and under magnetic fields up to strength of 14T. 

“This system has no equivalent at WMU or anywhere in the area and will enable measurements of many of the most important properties of materials,” said Ari-Gur, who is one of four co-Principal Investigators on the project led by Burns. “It will support important research into alternative energy, magnetic materials, batteries, semiconductors and superconductors.”

The system will be used for research, education and outreach.