X-Ray Scattering Group

The X-Ray Scattering Group investigates the microscopic interactions that give rise to emergent phenomena in quantum materials. We use advanced x-ray scattering and spectroscopy to probe how charge, spin, orbital, and lattice degrees of freedom interact across a wide range of energy, momentum, length, and time scales.

A major focus of our research is developing and applying resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) and related resonant x-ray techniques to reveal the elementary excitations and collective behavior of quantum materials. Our work addresses problems including unconventional and high-temperature superconductivity, magnetism and strong spin-orbit coupling, charge and orbital order, excitons and plasmons, low-dimensional and heterostructured materials, and topological electronic states.

We are particularly interested in going beyond the properties of materials at equilibrium to understand how quantum states evolve and can ultimately be controlled. Time-resolved x-ray measurements at free-electron lasers allow us to follow correlations and collective excitations after ultrafast excitation, while coherent diffraction, imaging, and total-scattering approaches provide complementary views of nanoscale structure, disorder, and domain dynamics.

Our research combines new experimental capabilities with theory, computation, and close collaborations in materials synthesis to build a microscopic and ultimately predictive understanding of quantum materials. We work extensively at the National Synchrotron Light Source II and other leading synchrotron and x-ray free-electron laser facilities.