Andrew MacFarlane

Assistant Professor

Office: New! AMPEL 317
Office Phone: (604) 822-6866
Lab(s): TRIUMF
Lab Phone(s): (604) 222-1047

FAX: (604) 822-2847
Email: wam@chem.ubc.ca

Curriculum Vitae: B.Sc., University of Victoria (1990); Ph.D., University of British Columbia (R.F.Kiefl, 1997); NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow (H.Alloul, Orsay 1997-1999); Postdoctoral Fellow (L.Taillefer, Toronto 1999-2001); Research Associate (TRIUMF, 2001).

Physical Chemistry, Solid State Chemistry, Nuclear Chemistry, Nuclear Probes of the Solid State:

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Research/Teaching Interests

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Interests: Electronic and magnetic properties of crystalline solids, especially strongly correlated materials such as the cuprate high temperature superconductors.

Techniques: Magnetic Resonance, ß-detected NMR and NQR, muon spin rotation, conventional solid state NMR...

Research: Synthesis of thin solid films (typically transition metal oxides) and heterostructures via Pulsed Laser Deposition and other means. Analysis of local magnetic properties in thin films and near interfaces with ßNMR. Synthesis of nanostructured solids, such as arrays of noble metal nanoparticles.

In ßNMR one detects the nuclear magnetic resonance of a ß-radioactive nucleus via the decay products, megavolt energy electrons. Such a signal is easy to detect, and, combined with the high nuclear polarization obtained by optical pumping prior to implantation, this yields an enormously higher signal per spin than conventional NMR. In fact one typically uses a few million nuclei for a measurement, instead of 10²⁰ in a typical NMR experiment. One can thus make some kinds of measurements which are inconceivable with conventional NMR such as the NMR in thin films a few to tens of nanometers thick. On this lengthscale, there are many interesting phenomena which can be measured with such a probe. In ßNQR, one uses the splitting of the nuclear spin states by the interaction of the nuclear spin with the local value of the electric field gradient in a crystal for example. One can then use this as a sensitive local probe of the charge distribution in the vicinity.

I have an ongoing program in ßNMR, and I will simultaneously be setting up a lab aimed at growing thin films and other heterostructures for these experiments.

Teaching: I am teaching Chem 121 (General), 417 (Nuclear) and 410 (Solid State) this year. Chem 511 (Nuclear Chemistry) may be offered if there is sufficient student interest: the course would be on modern nuclear experimental techniques and would have a significant hands-on component. Email me if you are interested!

Other: When I have time, I do some long distance running.