Future electronic devices are predicted to take advantage of the "spin" property of electrons. This could lead to devices for information technology with new functionality and could be crucial for quantum computers. Research at Northeastern seeks new materials and structures for spin-valve and spin-transistor applications.

Nanomedicine is an interdisciplinary paradigm that seeks to exploit recent developments in nanotechnology towards the key medical problems of early diagnosis and targeted therapy. Ongoing projects include functionalized nanoparticles, energy, drug and gene delivery using nanoparticles, electromagnetic hyperthermia, and magnetic nanoparticles as MRI contrast agents.

Magnetism on the nanometer scale is a crucial ingredient for tomorrow's data storage devices. Research is aimed at the design and synthesis of semiconductors which are also magnetic. An MBE (molecular beam epitaxy) facility is configured for growing quantum wells and quantum dots of magnetic semiconductors.

Materials with negative refractive index, also referred to as Left-Handed Metamaterials, display entirely new aspects of propagation of microwave and optical electromagnetic waves. The Northeastern group has fabricated these "meta-materials" and has demonstrated some of their unusual microwave properties. We are also carrying out theoretical analytical and numerical simulations to develop new metamaterials and devices.

Nanospectroscopy

Northeastern's NSOM (near-field scanning optical microscope) photoluminescence and fluorescence spectroscopic facility and STM/BEEL (scanning tunneling microscope/ballistic electron emission luminescence) facility are used to optically probe semiconductor nanostructures and multifunctional gold nanoparticles. Research programs are focused on InGaAs, InAs, and InP quantum dots, magnetic polarons in magnetic semiconductors, and nanoparticle intercellular tracking studies. Work also includes high-speed optical switching in magnetic quantum well structures.

Electrons confined to a 2-dimensional quantum well behave anomalously. Ongoing experiments at ultra-low temperatures are beginning to unravel the true nature of the collective interaction of confined electrons and its relation to the metal-insulator transition.

Quantum Chaos is the study of the quantum mechanics of classically chaotic systems. This research explores, via electromagnetic experiments, the manifestations of classical chaos in wave mechanics.

Deviations from macroscopic response in nanoscale materials and devices are important to understand for future applications. Scanning probe microscopy is one of the tools used to study these phenomena.

An interdisciplinary effort, involving physicists, engineers, and chemists is underway to develop new methods for manipulating and characterizing nanoscale structures for use in future integrated circuits, sensors and other nano-devices.