Fundamentally new behavior has been documented in recent years in electronic systems showing strong correlation and extreme confinement. The condensed matter theory group I lead is actively participating in several major developments of this field, such as (i) spin control, manipulation and transport (spintronics), (ii) nanoscale superconductivity and magnetism in metallic and semiconductor quantum dots and quantum wires, and (iii) novel superconductivity (MgB₂, high temperature superconductors) and magnetism (diluted magnetic semiconductors).

Our theory projects within spintronics and nanoscience are performed parallel to and in close collaboration with the experimental research effort of our Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT). This team brings together researchers from four institutions (Notre Dame, Argonne National Lab, University of Illinois-Chicago and Duke University), with complementary expertise in superconductivity, magnetism and semiconductor science and technology.

Within the NIRT project our research focuses on hybrid materials, such as the submicron-patterned superconductor-diluted magnetic semiconductor bi-layers. These structures are excellent candidates for hosting spin polarized, Zeeman localized electronic states which in turn could function as building blocks for spintronics applications. Our research is supported by the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.