PhD project: Scattering studies of ferroelectric semiconductors

Project description

Recently, it has been postulated that SnTe is a topological insulator while a related compound PbTe is not. These systems are semiconducting and possibly ferroelectric. The goal of this project is to understand the low-energy lattice dynamics and ferroelectric properties through the use of neutron inelastic scattering. These studies will be performed at ambient conditions and under high pressures and electric fields. The project will involve the growth of single crystals of these compounds and the study of them at large scale neutron and x ray facilities. The results will be compared with model calculations.

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