Latest News MEMS, Liquid Lenses and Pulsed-laser Deposition research added. Go there...       Dr. Taborek      Publications      Students      Postdocs      Alumni      Current Research      Contact Us      Handbook      UCI      Physical Sciences      Physics Dept.   The Low Temperature Materials Laboratory is directed by Prof. Peter Taborek. The Laboratory is part of the Condensed Matter Physics group in the Department of Physics at University of California, Irvine. In particular, the members of the Laboratory are interested in the fundamental studies of phase transitions near a surface and of quantum fluids. The study of quantum solids also includes issues like surface dynamics, sticking and growth mechanisms. The experimental effort in the Laboratory also includes projects in applied materials science for example development of a vapor phase method for growing diamond films, developing porous glass pH sensors, development of novel methods for measuring conductivity and the studies of intercalation in bucky ball (C60) films.      Pinch-off phenomena of both normal and superfluid helium   droplets have become a topic of interest in our laboratory   since the construction of our new Helium-4 optical cryostat.   Using a laser triggering mechanism in conjunction with   a 10-microsecond flash, we have been able to photograph   never-before-seen images of helium droplets poised to   pinch off from various surfaces.    `   Interestingly enough, the geometry of the surface the   drop is hanging from plays a large role in determining   the length of the liquid stalk on which the larger drop   is connected.   See the video   A magnified view of a superfluid helium-4 droplet All material on this site is the intellectual property of the Taborek research group.