APPLIED PHYSICS GROUP
Prof. Xun-Li WANG
Chair Professor, Department of Physics
Director, Centre for Neutron Scattering
City University of Hong Kong
RESEARCH INTERESTS
We apply state-of-the-art neutron and synchrotron scattering techniques to study the structure and dynamics of advanced materials. Fundamental knowledge of the structure and dynamics – where atoms are and how atoms move – is essential to understanding the properties of materials. Broad topics of interests include phase transformation, deformation behaviors, and magnetism. In addition, we are also involved in several collaboration projects. Our experiments are carried out by students and postdocs at leading neutron and synchrotron sources world-wide.
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On-going research:
Deformation in High Entropy Alloys
High Entropy Alloys (HEAs), which consist of multi-principal elements, are an intriguing new class of materials with promising mechanical properties. We have been using neutron diffraction to investigate in situ the deformation pathway in HEAs at low temperatures. For more details, please click here.
Structure and Phase Transformation in Amorphous Alloys
The nature of the glassy state is one of the top 100 scientific grand challenges identified by Science magazine (e.g. amorphous materials). We are interested in the atomic packing in amorphous alloys, and how the packing change under heating or deformation. For more details, please click here.
Phonon Dynamics in Amorphous Alloys
In crystalline materials, the normal modes, known as phonons, are quantized plane-wave solutions of the elemental modes of vibration. Normal vibration modes and vibrational density of states are fundamental for understanding many of the physical properties of materials. We use inelastic neutron scattering and computer simulation to study phonons in amorphous alloys. For more details, please click here.
Elasto-magnetic Coupling in Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloys
Smart materials which provide rapid responses to mechanical and magnetic stimuli hold the promise for future generations of sensors and actuators. Compositional and microstructural design of Ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMAs) with desired magneto-mechanical responses hinges on having a fundamental understanding of the strong magnetoelastic coupling in this class of materials. For more details, please click here.
