2015 MagLab Summer School participants. Laura Casto (2nd row, 3rd from left). Amanda Clune (2nd row, 6th from left).
Two chemistry graduate students in Professor Musfeldt’s Group, Laura Casto and Amanda Clune, attended National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) User Summer School in May. The weeklong summer school features tutorials on measurement techniques, practical exercises and plenary talks from experts in the field of condensed matter physics. This experience is designed to provide a “technique toolkit” to early career scientists.*
Musfeldt’s Group frequently obtains measurements at the NHMFL, so understanding the equipment they are working with is an important step in their research. “Through lectures and several lab practical exercises, we were able to gain knowledge from the experts and have a hands-on experience with many lab techniques that will be useful at both the NHMFL user facilities, as well as many other user facilities around the world.” Casto said, “These techniques included noise + noise suppression at the magnet lab, cryogenic measurements, lock-in techniques, finding and correcting ground loops, PPMS techniques, Sample preparation techniques (crystal growth, polishing, XRD measurements), optical spectroscopy techniques, and measurements using resistive magnets. We also learned about Electron Magnetic Resonance, Ion Cyclotron Resonance and Condensed Matter NMR.”
“Additionally, we were able to network and make various connections with people currently working at the Magnet Lab as well as students from all over the world,” Clune said. “Since we are users of the NHMFL, this summer school also helped me understand what other sciences are going on at the facility.”
Casto and Clune are both excited about the new opportunities these newly acquired techniques may bring them. “It was very useful in providing me with an understanding of the variety of science that is going on at the Magnet Lab.” Casto said, “It definitely will benefit my future research now that I have several techniques in mind, as well as a better understanding of the different kinds of physics and chemistry that can arise in a single crystal.” Clune added, “… this will allow me to have connects to people working within the same area as me to collaborate as well as to have a greater understanding of the User Facility when we are completing experiments in Tallahassee. ”
*Introduction from MagLab website.