Professor Ben Murdin
Associate Dean (Research and Enterprise)
Qualifications: Qualifications: BA, MA (Cambridge), MSc, PhD (Heriot Watt), FInstP
Email: b.murdin@surrey.ac.uk
Phone: Work: 01483 68 9328
Room no: 15 ATI 01
Further information
Biography
1966 born Rochester NY, USA (British/US dual national)
1989 BA in Physics from Cambridge University, UK (upgraded to a free MA after a couple of years!)
1990 MSc in Optoelectronics from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
1993 PhD in Semiconductor spectroscopy from Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, UK
1993 - 1996 European Union Marie Curie fellow at FOM-Rijnhuizen, Utrecht, NL
1996 - 2002, Lecturer at University of Surrey.
2002 - 2004, Reader
2004 - present, Professor of Physics
2005 - 2007 School Director of Research
2007 - present Associate Dean (Research and Enterprise)
Research Interests
I am an experimentalist interested in the study of electronic and optical properties of semiconductors and semiconductor nanostructures using high-pressures, magnetic-fields, and linear, nonlinear and time resolved infrared spectroscopy. I am a regular user of the Free-Electron Laser, FELIX, in Holland, and I am the coordinator and spokesperson for UK Condensed Matter Physics users there. I am also a Programme Advisory Committee member for the Dresden laser, FELBE. I like "applicable physics" rather than really pure or really applied physics, for example I study how quickly and why electron spins lose their memory (applicable to spintronic devices). I chaired the International Conference on Narrow Gap Semiconductors, here in Guildford in 2007.
Research Collaborations
I have strong research links with the groups of Prof. Carl Pidgeon (my best friend and mentor) at Heriot-Watt University, Prof Gabriel Aeppli at UCL, Prof. Wolfgang Heiss at Uni. Linz, Dr Lesley Cohen at Imperial College London, Dr Tony Krier at Lancaster, Dr Tim Ashley at QinetiQ Ltd and Dr Lex van der Meer at the Free Electron Laser in Utrecht.
Further details can be found on my personal web page.
A full list of publications, conference presentations, and patents can be found here.
Publications
Highlights
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(2010) 'Coherent control of Rydberg states in silicon'. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP NATURE, 465 (7301), pp. 1057-U116.doi: 10.1038/nature09112Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7175/
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(2010) 'Strong dependence of spin dynamics on the orientation of an external magnetic field for InSb and InAs'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPL PHYS LETT, 96 (11) Article number 111107 doi: 10.1063/1.3337111Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7724/
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(2009) 'Continuous Voltage Tunability of Intersubband Relaxation Times in Coupled SiGe Quantum Well Structures Using Ultrafast Spectroscopy'. AMER PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV LETT, 102 (14) Article number 147401 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7721/
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(2008) 'Silicon as a model ion trap: Time domain measurements of donor Rydberg states'. NATL ACAD SCIENCES P NATL ACAD SCI USA, 105 (31), pp. 10649-10653.Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7767/
Journal articles
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(2011) 'Experimental determination of the Rashba coefficient in InSb/InAlSb quantum wells at zero magnetic field and elevated temperatures'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD J PHYS-CONDENS MAT, 23 (3) Article number 035801 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7763/
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(2010) 'Coherent control of Rydberg states in silicon'. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP NATURE, 465 (7301), pp. 1057-U116.doi: 10.1038/nature09112Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7175/
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(2010) 'Strong dependence of spin dynamics on the orientation of an external magnetic field for InSb and InAs'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPL PHYS LETT, 96 (11) Article number 111107 doi: 10.1063/1.3337111Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7724/
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(2010) 'Circular photogalvanic effect in HgTe/CdHgTe quantum well structures'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD SEMICOND SCI TECH, 25 (9) Article number 095005 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7720/
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(2009) 'Gain recovery dynamics of a terahertz quantum cascade laser'. AMER PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV B, 80 (7) Article number 075303 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7689/
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(2009) 'Continuous Voltage Tunability of Intersubband Relaxation Times in Coupled SiGe Quantum Well Structures Using Ultrafast Spectroscopy'. AMER PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV LETT, 102 (14) Article number 147401 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7721/
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(2009) 'Fast detector of the ellipticity of infrared and terahertz radiation based on HgTe quantum well structures'. AMER INST PHYSICS J APPL PHYS, 105 (1) Article number 013106 doi: 10.1063/1.3056393Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7765/
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(2009) 'Far-infrared free-electron lasers and their applications'. TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD CONTEMP PHYS, 50 (2), pp. 391-406.Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7764/
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(2008) 'Temperature dependence of the electron spin g factor in GaAs'. AMER PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV B, 78 (24) Article number 245203 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7766/
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(2008) 'Resonant circular photogalvanic effect in GaN/AlGaN heterojunctions'. AMER PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV B, 78 (20) Article number 205435 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7885/
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(2008) 'Silicon as a model ion trap: Time domain measurements of donor Rydberg states'. NATL ACAD SCIENCES P NATL ACAD SCI USA, 105 (31), pp. 10649-10653.Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7767/
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(2008) 'Zero-field spin splitting and spin lifetime in n-InSb/In(1-x)A1(x)Sb asymmetric quantum well heterostructures (vol 77, art no 165335, 2008)'. AMER PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV B, 78 (7) Article number 079901 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7768/
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(2008) 'Quantum ratchet effects induced by terahertz radiation in GaN-based two-dimensional structures'. AMER PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV B, 77 (24) Article number 245304 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7769/
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(2008) 'Zero-field spin splitting and spin lifetime in n-InSb/In1-xAlxSb asymmetric quantum well heterostructures'. AMER PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV B, 77 (16) Article number 165335 Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7770/
- . (2008) 'Temperature dependence of the electron Lande g factor in InSb and GaAs'. AMER PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV B, 77 (3) Article number 033204
- . (2007) 'Photoluminescence of InNAs alloys: S-shaped temperature dependence and conduction-band nonparabolicity'. AMER PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV B, 76 (7) Article number 075209
- . (2007) 'Direct determination of ultrafast intersubband hole relaxation times in voltage biased SiGe quantum wells by a density matrix interpretation of femtosecond resolved photocurrent experiments'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD NEW J PHYS, 9 Article number 128
- . (2007) 'Interwell relaxation times in p-Si/SiGe asymmetric quantum well structures: Role of interface roughness'. AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV B, 75 (4) Article number 045338
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(2006) 'Spectroscopy of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-cascade lasers using hydrostatic pressure'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPL PHYS LETT, 89 (22) Article number 221105 doi: 10.1063/1.2364159
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(2006) 'Direct monitoring of the excited state population in biased SiGe valence band quantum wells by femtosecond resolved photocurrent experiments'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPL PHYS LETT, 89 (21) Article number 211111 doi: 10.1063/1.2397004
- . (2006) 'Toward silicon-based lasers for terahertz sources'. IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC IEEE J SEL TOP QUANT, 12 (6), pp. 1570-1578.
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(2006) 'Two- and one-dimensional light propagations and gain in layer-by-layer-deposited colloidal nanocrystal waveguides'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPL PHYS LETT, 89 (11) Article number 111120 doi: 10.1063/1.2354433
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(2006) 'Band anticrossing in GaNxSb1-x'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPL PHYS LETT, 89 (11) Article number 111921 doi: 10.1063/1.2349832Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7913/
- . (2006) 'Spin lifetime in InAs epitaxial layers grown on GaAs'. AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOC PHYS REV B, 74 (7) Article number 075331
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(2006) 'Recombination processes in midinfrared InGaAsSb diode lasers emitting at 2.37 mu m'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPL PHYS LETT, 89 (5) Article number 051104 doi: 10.1063/1.2243973
- . (2006) 'Spin relaxation in n-InSb/AlInSb quantum wells'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD NEW J PHYS, 8 Article number 49
- . (2006) 'Spin relaxation by transient monopolar and bipolar optical orientation.'. Phys Rev Lett, United States: 96 (9)
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(2003) 'Spin-galvanic effect due to optical spin orientation'. American Physical Society Physical Review B, 68 (8) Article number 081302 , pp. ---.Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/7884/
Conference papers
- . (2010) 'First Observation of a THz Photon Echo'. IEEE 35TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INFRARED, MILLIMETER, AND TERAHERTZ WAVES (IRMMW-THZ 2010), Rome, ITALY: 35th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter and Terahertz Waves
- . (2009) 'All Electrical Detection of the Stokes Parameters of IR/THz Radiation'. IEEE 2009 34TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON INFRARED, MILLIMETER, AND TERAHERTZ WAVES, VOLS 1 AND 2, Busan, SOUTH KOREA: 34th International Conference on Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz 2009), pp. 298-299.
- . (2008) 'Density and well-width dependence of the spin relaxation in n-InSb/AlInSb quantum wells'. SPRINGER NARROW GAP SEMICONDUCTORS 2007, Guildford, ENGLAND: 13th International Conference on Narrow Gap Semiconductors 119, pp. 19-21.
- . (2008) 'Lifetime Measurements of Group V Donor Rydberg States in Silicon at THz Frequencies'. IEEE 2008 5TH IEEE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GROUP IV PHOTONICS, Sorrento, ITALY: 5th IEEE International Conference on Group IV Photonics, pp. 24-26.
- . (2008) 'Temperature dependence of the electron Lande g-factor in InSb'. SPRINGER NARROW GAP SEMICONDUCTORS 2007, Guildford, ENGLAND: 13th International Conference on Narrow Gap Semiconductors 119, pp. 27-29.
- . (2007) 'Spin dynamics in narrow-gap semiconductor epitaxial layers'. SPRINGER JOURNAL OF SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND NOVEL MAGNETISM, Maui, HI: 4th International School and Conference on Spintronics and Quantum Information Technology (Spintech IV) 20 (6), pp. 461-465.
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(2007) 'Spin lifetime in high quality InSb epitaxial layers grown on GaAs'. AMER INST PHYSICS JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS, 101 (8)doi: 10.1063/1.2719017
- . (2007) 'Carrier recombination mechanisms in mid-infrared GaInAsSb quantum well lasers'. WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI B-BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Barcelona, SPAIN: 12th International Conference on High Pressure Semiconductor Physics (HPSP-12) 244 (1), pp. 203-207.
- . (2007) 'High pressure studies of mid-infrared type-II "W" diode lasers at cryogenic temperatures'. WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI B-BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Barcelona, SPAIN: 12th International Conference on High Pressure Semiconductor Physics (HPSP-12) 244 (1), pp. 224-228.
- . (2006) 'Strain-symmetrized Si/SiGe multi-quantum well structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy for intersubband engineering'. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV JOURNAL OF LUMINESCENCE, Nice, FRANCE: Symposium on Si-based Photonics held at the EMRS 2006 Conference 121 (2), pp. 403-408.
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(2006) 'Dilute antimonide nitrides for very long wavelength infrared applications - art. no. 62060L'. SPIE-INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING Infrared Technology and Applications XXXII, Pts 1and 2, Kissimmee, FL: 32nd Conference on Infrared Technology and Applications 6206, pp. L2060-L2060.doi: 10.1117/12.667232
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(2005) 'LO phonon scattering as a depopulation mechanism in Si/SiGe quantum cascades'. IEEE 2005 2nd IEEE International Conference on Group IV Photonics, Antwerp, BELGIUM: 2nd IEEE International Conference on Group IV Photonics, pp. 7-9.Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/1787/
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(2005) 'Silicon quantum cascade lasers for THz sources'. IEEE 2005 IEEE LEOS Annual Meeting Conference Proceedings (LEOS), Sydney, AUSTRALIA: 18th Annual Meeting of the IEEE-Lasers-and-Electro-Optical-Society, pp. 727-728.Full text is available at: http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/1763/
Teaching
In the Physics Department I teach level one Data Handling (aka probability and statistics), level two physics laboratory, level three Physics of Stars. On the MSc in Medical Physics I teach Medical Statistics. For EE I teach a component of the MSc module Nanoelectronics and Devices on spintronics.
Departmental Duties
I manage the department's final year projects, and I am the course coordinator for the Physics with Satellite Technology degree pathway. I am an External Examiner for the Physics Department at Heriot-Watt University.
