Research

Isotope1
Ultrafast laser breakdown experiment exploring dense plasma.  Photograph taken by A. Bataller in the Putterman research group at UCLA.

My research goals have focused on advancing the physics and potential applications of dense plasma and charge condensation.  At UCLA I was involved in numerous research topics such as Sonoluminescence (all shapes and sizes), ultrafast laser breakdown, spark discharges, laser-plasma interactions, optical spectroscopy, triboelectrification, non-linear acoustics, and pulsed power.  Currently at NCSU, I study various solid-state materials that include 2D layered materials, organic semiconductors, and topological insulators.  My recent efforts have resulted in our discovery of room temperature electron-hole liquid (a dense plasma condensate) in monolayer MoS2.