Shireen Adenwalla

Research Interests

Dr. Adenwalla's work involves structural characterization of materials, magnetic systems, polymers and the development of solid state neutron detectors.

In collaborations with Professor Ducharme's group, the structural changes of ferroelectric polymers across the ferroelectric transition are being investigated. The crystallinity of these Langmuir-Blodgett deposited polymers allows a study of their crystal structure and other properties usually attributed only to crystalline materials for e.g. the Debye Temperature, a concerted effort is being made to make a definitive measurement of the crystal structure and all possible phonon modes. We are also looking at interlayer coupling between ferroelectric layers of differing transition temperatures. Recent measurements at the Advanced Photon Source in order to look for coupling show initial evidence that such a coupling does indeed exist.

We have been investigating the effect of magnetic anisotropy on the coupling between ferromagnet and an antiferromagnet. Recently, we have investigated the interlayer coupling in out-of-plane magnetized layers separated by an insulating antiferromagnetic spacer and found evidence of oscillatory coupling. We plan to further investigate this phenomena using a variety of techniques, including x-ray magnetic scattering, transport, MOKE, and neutrons. We are also investigating the properties of sub-micron size features of both single layer and multilayer arrays and the effects of size, spacing and shape on the coupling and magnetic properties of these arrays.

In collaboration with Brian Robertson and Peter Dowben, B5C diodes are being developed for use as solid state neutron detDr. Adenwalla's work involves structural characterization of materials, magnetic systems, polymers and the development of solid state neutron detectors.

In collaborations with Professor Ducharme's group, the structural changes of ferroelectric polymers across the ferroelectric transition are being investigated. The crystallinity of these Langmuir-Blodgett deposited polymers allows a study of their crystal structure and other properties usually attributed only to crystalline materials for e.g. the Debye Temperature, a concerted effort is being made to make a definitive measurement of the crystal structure and all possible phonon modes. We are also looking at interlayer coupling between ferroelectric layers of differing transition temperatures. Recent measurements at the Advanced Photon Source in order to look for coupling show initial evidence that such a coupling does indeed exist.

We have been investigating the effect of magnetic anisotropy on the coupling between ferromagnet and an antiferromagnet. Recently, we have investigated the interlayer coupling in out-of-plane magnetized layers separated by an insulating antiferromagnetic spacer and found evidence of oscillatory coupling. We plan to further investigate this phenomena using a variety of techniques, including x-ray magnetic scattering, transport, MOKE, and neutrons. We are also investigating the properties of sub-micron size features of both single layer and multilayer arrays and the effects of size, spacing and shape on the coupling and magnetic properties of these arrays.

In collaboration with Brian Robertson and Peter Dowben, B5C diodes are being developed for use as solid state neutron detectors. Working diodes have been fabricated and are being tested at a TRIGA medical reactor at the VA Medical Center in Omaha. If successful, these could have major implications for neutron detection, in terms of sensitivity, reliability, size and sturdiness.

This work is funded by the NSF, ONR and NRI.ectors. Working diodes have been fabricated and are being tested at a TRIGA medical reactor at the VA Medical Center in Omaha. If successful, these could have major implications for neutron detection, in terms of sensitivity, reliability, size and sturdiness.
This work is funded by the NSF, ONR and NRI.