Research

Shock Compression Experiments

Laser fluorescence spectroscopy

Quantum dots

Fluorescent dyes

Fluorescence set up in Middletown campus

Overview

My research is focused on spectroscopy in a diverse set of materials, and could be broadly classified as experimental condensed matter physicist. Over the last few years, my research interest has overlapped physics, materials science, chemistry, geology, and biology. I continue to work on novel materials and their applicability in devices. In collaborations with industry and other academic institutions, we work on the development of crystalline and amorphous materials. In a collaborative effort with the Department of Geology (MU) we are working on impacts of shock waves in minerals to understand the changes in chemistry at extreme conditions. In collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, I am also working on chemical initiation pathways of energetic materials.

I am currently looking for students who are interested in ongoing/forthcoming research. If you are interested to join our group, please send me an email at bhowmim@miamioh.edu. You do not need any prior research experience, or skills to join. You can start research from the very beginning of your undergraduate studies at MU.

Research Interests

Optical properties of semiconductor bulk and quantum heterostructures
Matter in extreme conditions
Impact of science education on representation and participation

Current research projects

Semiconductors under extreme conditions: In this collaborative work between Miami University (MU), University of Illinois (UIUC), and Northern Kentucky University (NKU), we are investigating effects of shock compression on semiconductor bulk materials.
Optical properties of II-VI and III-V bulk and quantum heterostructure materials: This is a project between MU, Bowling Green State University (BGSU), and Ullrich Photonics where we have been studying photoluminescence properties from bulk and quantum confined materials. The objective is to find simple models and synthesis techniques to address existing issues and open questions in semiconductor physics.
Shock compression in minerals: In this project we are investigating effects of high pressure through shock wave compression on minerals. This is a collaboration between MU (MPS, Geology) and (UIUC). A wide variety of minerals are being studied through laser driven hyper-velocity impact experiments, and either with real time and/or postmortem analyses. We are interested to know the changes in surface chemistry in these materials, and to extract new information valuable in environmental science, materials synthesis, and photophysical applications.

Publications

(for all publications, please visit my google scholar page: Google Scholar Link)

N.R. Jenkins, X. Zhou, M. Bhowmick, C.L. McLeod, M.P.S. Krekeler, “Investigation into the stability of synthetic goethite after dynamic shock compression”, Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 51, 22, (2024). Link
L. M. Eversole, R. Adjorlolo, J. F. Renaud, and M. Bhowmick, “Optical Limiting from CdSe-Based Multiphase Polymer Nanocomposite Films”, Coatings, 14, 634, (2024). Link
M. Murchland, S. Elasamar, G. Viner, X. Zhou, M. Gillis, C. Almquist, B. Cymes, M. Bhowmick, C.L. McLeod, M.P.S. Krekeler, “The Effect of Shock Compression on the Crystal Structure of Cryptomelane (K-OMS-2)”, Journal of Dynamic Behavior of Materials (2024). Link
M Bhowmick, J Christensen, R Adjorlolo, and B Ullrich, “Photoluminescence from Two-Phase Nanocomposites Embedded in Polymers”, Micromachines, 15(1), 111 (2024). Link
M Bhowmick, H Xi, B Ullrich, “Absorption limit in direct gap III–V semiconductors”, Journal of Applied Physics 134 (1) (2023). Link
M. Bhowmick, B Ullrich, M Murchland, X Zhou, C Ramkumar, “Substrate and Excitation Intensity Dependence of Saturable Absorption in Perovskite Quantum Dot Films”, Nanomaterials 13 (5), 871 (2023). Link
M. Bhowmick, J. Fryman, X. Zhou, and C. Ramkumar, “Probing shock induced structural changes in GaSb”, Optics Letters 48 (2), 307-310 (2023). Link
M. Bhowmick, H Xi, B Ullrich, “Microscopic description and uncertainty of the Stokes shift in semiconductors”, Optics Letters 47 (8), 1953-1955 (2022). Link
M. Bhowmick, A.K. Singh, P. Barik, H. Xi, B. Ullrich, “All-optical switch based on PbS quantum dots”, Applied Physics Letters, 119 (19), 192103 (2021). Link
E.J. Nissen, M Bhowmick, DD Dlott, “Ethylenediamine Catalyzes Nitromethane Shock-to-Detonation in Two Distinct Ways”, The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 125 (29), 8185-8192 (2021). Link
S Stekovic, HK Springer, M Bhowmick, DD Dlott, DS Stewart, “Laser-driven flyer plate impact: Computational studies guided by experiments”, Journal of Applied Physics 129 (19), 195901 (2021). Link
M Bhowmick, H Xi, B Ullrich, “Optical Bandgap Definition via a Modified Form of Urbach’s Rule”, Materials 14 (7), 1639 (2021). Link
M Bhowmick, AK Singh, P Barik, H Xi, B Ullrich, “Impact of PbS quantum dots on GaAs photoluminescence”, Optical Components and Materials XVIII 11682, 116820Y (2021). Link
E. J. Nissen, M. Bhowmick, D. D. Dlott, “Shock-induced kinetics and cellular structures of liquid nitromethane detonation”, Combustion and Flame 225 5-12 (2021). Link
B. Ullrich, H. Xi, M. Bhowmick, “Correction of the Fan factor”, AIP Advances 10, 035014 (2020). Link
W. P. Bassett, B. P. Johnson, L. Salvati, III, E. J. Nissen, M. Bhowmick, and D. D. Dlott, “Shock initiation microscopy with high time and space resolution”, Propellants, Explosives, and Pyrotechnics, 45, 1-4 (2020). Link
M. Bhowmick, H. Xi, M. Androulidaki, B. Ullrich, “Mathematical assessment of the thermal band gap variation of semiconductors”, Physica Scripta 94 085701 (2019). Link
M. Bhowmick, W. P. Basset, S. Matveev, L. Salvati III and D. D. Dlott, “Optical windows as high-speed shock wave detectors” AIP Advances 8, 125123 (2018). Link
M. Bhowmick, Erin J. Nissen, and Dana D. Dlott “Detonation on a tabletop: Nitromethane with high time and space resolution”, Journal of Applied Physics 124, 075901 (2018). Link
M. Bhowmick, B. Ullrich, M. Androulidaki, H. Xi, “The thermo-electric nature of the Debye temperature”, AIP Advances 8, 055318 (2018). Link
B. Ullrich, M. Bhowmick, H. Xi, “Relation between Debye temperature and energy band gap of semiconductors”, AIP Advances 7 (4), 045109 (2017). Link
M. Bhowmick, G.A Khodaparast, T.D Mishima, M.B Santos, D. Saha, “Interband and intraband relaxation dynamics in InSb based quantum wells”, Journal of Applied Physics 120 (23), 235702 (2016). Link
B. Ullrich, A.K. Singh, P. Barik, H. Xi, M. Bhowmick “Inherent photoluminescence Stokes shift in GaAs” Optics Letters 40 (11), 2580-2583 (2015). Link
B. Ullrich, A. K. Singh, M. Bhowmick, P. Barik, D. Ariza-Flores, H. Xi, and J. W. Tomm, “Photoluminescence lineshape of ZnO”, AIP Advances 4, 123001 (2014). Link
B. Ullrich, A. Antillón, M. Bhowmick, J. S. Wang, H. Xi, “Atomic transition region at the cross-over between quantum dots to molecules”, Physica Scripta 89, 025801 (2014). Link
B. Ullrich, D. Ariza, and M. Bhowmick, “Intrinsic photoluminescence Stokes shift in semiconductors demonstrated by thin-film CdS formed with pulsed-laser deposition” Thin Solid Films, 558 24-26 (2014). Link
M. A. Meeker, B. A. Magill, T. R. Merritt, M. Bhowmick, K. McCutcheon et al., “Dynamics of photoexcited carriers and spins in InAsP ternary alloys”, Applied Physics Letters 102, 222102 (2013). Link
M. Bhowmick, T. R. Merritt, G. A. Khodaparast, Bruce W. Wessels, Stephen A. McGill, D. Saha, X. Pan, G. D. Sanders, C. J. Stanton,"Time Resolved Differential Transmission Measurements in Ferromagnetic MOVPE Grown InMnAs" Physical Review B, 85, 125313 (2012). Link