Name: Manjeet Kumar Qualification: MPhil (Physics) Pondicherry University, INDIA Project Title: Electronic transport through ferroelectric

barrier by using DFT Research Interests

In the study of devices based on nanoscale we must understand the electronic structure of the materials and their response towards electric field, magnetic field, force, pressure, temperature etc. We must have instruments that are sensitive enough to capture the small changes at microscopic level. In practice microscopic properties are highly difficult to measure. Luckily we have instruments like NMR, XAS, XES, SEM, TEM to analyse materials at nanoscale. Theoretically density functional theory has been the dominanting method for electronic structure calculations based upon nanomaterials. DFT is a many -body problem simplified over one body problem with Kohn Sham self consistent procedure. By using SCF procedure we can calculate ground state quantities like ground state energy, density, force, strain of the nanoscale materials. To make DFT practical we have some softwares to do numerical simulations such as Quantum ESPRESSO, VASP, ABINIT, SIESTA etc. Computer simulations have many advantages because as they save time and money. Sometimes experiments are limited because they have to depend on particular conditions, data acquisition and interpretation. Simulations scale up with the increase of computer power which doubles every year. So, computational science should capture all the changes in the structure of the material under investigation. For designing new materials we need atomistic modeling and microscopic understanding of materials. A set of theoretical advancements has created a new direction of the research that influences all of Physics and other sciences. In my MPhil project I researched electronic transport properties through organic ferroelectric material PVDF Poly (Vinylidene Fluoride) sandwiched between two ferromagnetic electrodes. In this project I studied dependence of density of states and transmission function on applied voltage. DFT calculations and transport properties are done with SIESTA and TranSIESTA codes. During my studies, I was always a curious and inquisitive student, always wondering and experimenting about nature and the surroundings. Research is long term study so one should have patience, motivation, honesty and hard working. I think I possess all these

qualities and looking forward for research as my career. I wish to complete my PhD at Lulea University of technology and pursue a goal of a career in research in the field of Physics. I am interested in this field because it involves the study of various subjects like quantum mechanics, electronics, solid state physics, chemistry, material science, nanotech and wide range of applications, Which gives the option to learn more and more about various branches of science and develop new methods. Well published faculty and higher level of research in LUT encourage me to apply for this position. LUT has great environment for research and quality of education is very high these are the reasons why international students and researcher prefer LUT. My research interests are electronic structure calculations, DFT, theoretical solid state physics. I would be grateful if you consider me for the PhD program as an eager candidate.