Department of Physics

condensed matter physics (experimental)

Our research efforts focus on the microscope structure and dynamics of condensed matter using x-ray and neutron scattering techniques. Areas of study include the following:

• Collective Excitations in Confined Quantum Liquids
• Momentum Distribution of Hydrogen on Surfaces
• Microscopic Structure of Confined Solids
• Wetting on Nonstructural Surfaces
• Dynamics of Hydrogen in Reduced Dimensionality
• Hydrogen Storage Materials

These studies make extensive use of neutron and x-ray facilities both in the United States and Europe, as well as local facilities at Indiana University. Our research group is also involved in operating and constructing state of the art instrumentation. These efforts include:

• Operation of Beamline X-18A at the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Lab
• Construction of the Cold Neutron Chopper Spectrometer at the Spallation Neutron Source
• Formation of the Neutron Education and Training Institution for the development of advanced Instrumentation

"Confinement-Driven Phase Separation of Quantum Liquid Mixtures.", Prisk, T., Pantalei, C., Kaiser, H., & Sokol, P. (2012). Confinement-Driven Phase Separation of Quantum Liquid Mixtures. Physical Review Letters, 109(7), 1-4. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.075301

"Shape and Size of Highly Concentrated Micelles in CTAB/NaSal Solutions by Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS).", Das, N. C., Cao, H., Kaiser, H., Warren, G. T., Gladden, J. R., & Sokol, P. E. (2012). Shape and Size of Highly Concentrated Micelles in CTAB/NaSal Solutions by Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS). Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids, 28(33), 11962-8. doi:10.1021/la2022598

"The ALPHA Facility at Indiana University:New Capabilities for Radiation Effects Testing.", Sokol, P. E., Lee, S. Y., Jimg, Y., Pang, X., Luo, T., Rinckel, T., Romel, C., et al. (2012). Journal of Radiation Effects Research and Engineering, 30(1), 287-298.

"An Examination of the Electrostatic Interactions between the N-Terminal Tail of the Brome Mosaic Virus Coat Protein and Encapsidated RNAs.", Ni, P., Wang, Z., Ma, X., Das, N. C., Sokol, P., Chiu, W., Dragnea, B., et al. (2012). Journal of molecular biology, 419(5), 284-300. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2012.03.023

"The new cold neutron chopper spectrometer at the Spallation Neutron Source: Design and performance.", Ehlers, G., Podlesnyak, a. a., Niedziela, J. L., Iverson, E. B., & Sokol, P. E. (2011). Review of Scientific Instruments, 82(8), 085108. doi:10.1063/1.3626935

"Dynamics of small-molecule glass formers confined in nanopores.", Prisk, T. R., Tyagi, M., & Sokol, P. E. (2011). Journal of Chemical Physics, 134(11), 114506. doi:10.1063/1.3560039

"Interaction of single water molecules with silanols in mesoporous silica.", Pantalei, C., Senesi, R., Andreani, C., Sozzani, P., Comotti, A., Bracco, S., Beretta, M., et al. (2011). Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP, 13(13), 6022-8. doi:10.1039/c0cp02479a

"Hybrid photovoltaic devices from regioregular polythiophene and ZnO nanoparticles composites.", Das, N. C., & Sokol, P. E. (2010). Renewable Energy, 35(12), 2683-2688. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2010.04.014

"Quantitative Characterization of Vertically Aligned Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Arrays Using Small Angle X-ray Scattering.", Das, N. C., Yang, K., Liu, Y., Sokol, P. E., Wang, Z., & Wang, H. (2011). Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 11(xx), 1-6. doi:10.1166/jnn.2011.4110

condensed matter physics (experimental)

Our research efforts focus on the microscope structure and dynamics of condensed matter using x-ray and neutron scattering techniques. Areas of study include the following:

• Collective Excitations in Confined Quantum Liquids
• Momentum Distribution of Hydrogen on Surfaces
• Microscopic Structure of Confined Solids
• Wetting on Nonstructural Surfaces
• Dynamics of Hydrogen in Reduced Dimensionality
• Hydrogen Storage Materials

These studies make extensive use of neutron and x-ray facilities both in the United States and Europe, as well as local facilities at Indiana University. Our research group is also involved in operating and constructing state of the art instrumentation. These efforts include:

• Operation of Beamline X-18A at the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Lab
• Construction of the Cold Neutron Chopper Spectrometer at the Spallation Neutron Source
• Formation of the Neutron Education and Training Institution for the development of advanced Instrumentation

"Confinement-Driven Phase Separation of Quantum Liquid Mixtures.", Prisk, T., Pantalei, C., Kaiser, H., & Sokol, P. (2012). Confinement-Driven Phase Separation of Quantum Liquid Mixtures. Physical Review Letters, 109(7), 1-4. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.075301

"Shape and Size of Highly Concentrated Micelles in CTAB/NaSal Solutions by Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS).", Das, N. C., Cao, H., Kaiser, H., Warren, G. T., Gladden, J. R., & Sokol, P. E. (2012). Shape and Size of Highly Concentrated Micelles in CTAB/NaSal Solutions by Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS). Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids, 28(33), 11962-8. doi:10.1021/la2022598

"The ALPHA Facility at Indiana University:New Capabilities for Radiation Effects Testing.", Sokol, P. E., Lee, S. Y., Jimg, Y., Pang, X., Luo, T., Rinckel, T., Romel, C., et al. (2012). Journal of Radiation Effects Research and Engineering, 30(1), 287-298.

"An Examination of the Electrostatic Interactions between the N-Terminal Tail of the Brome Mosaic Virus Coat Protein and Encapsidated RNAs.", Ni, P., Wang, Z., Ma, X., Das, N. C., Sokol, P., Chiu, W., Dragnea, B., et al. (2012). Journal of molecular biology, 419(5), 284-300. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2012.03.023

"The new cold neutron chopper spectrometer at the Spallation Neutron Source: Design and performance.", Ehlers, G., Podlesnyak, a. a., Niedziela, J. L., Iverson, E. B., & Sokol, P. E. (2011). Review of Scientific Instruments, 82(8), 085108. doi:10.1063/1.3626935

"Dynamics of small-molecule glass formers confined in nanopores.", Prisk, T. R., Tyagi, M., & Sokol, P. E. (2011). Journal of Chemical Physics, 134(11), 114506. doi:10.1063/1.3560039

"Interaction of single water molecules with silanols in mesoporous silica.", Pantalei, C., Senesi, R., Andreani, C., Sozzani, P., Comotti, A., Bracco, S., Beretta, M., et al. (2011). Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP, 13(13), 6022-8. doi:10.1039/c0cp02479a

"Hybrid photovoltaic devices from regioregular polythiophene and ZnO nanoparticles composites.", Das, N. C., & Sokol, P. E. (2010). Renewable Energy, 35(12), 2683-2688. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2010.04.014

"Quantitative Characterization of Vertically Aligned Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Arrays Using Small Angle X-ray Scattering.", Das, N. C., Yang, K., Liu, Y., Sokol, P. E., Wang, Z., & Wang, H. (2011). Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 11(xx), 1-6. doi:10.1166/jnn.2011.4110