Jaskaran Mangat

My work focusses on the effect of subtle structural distortions on the physical properties of rare-earth nickelates under extreme conditions, specifically doped Ruddlesden-Popper systems hosting unusual features such as unconventional superconductivity associated with orthorhombic-to-tetragonal lattice distortions. These complex materials are sensitive to temperature, pressure, strain and deviations in oxygen stoichiometry; as well as being purportedly polymorphic with multiple possible degrees of freedom in charge, orbital and magnetic ordering due to the mixing of Ni2+ and Jahn-Teller-distorted Ni3+ ions in the crystal structure, with the average spatial symmetry remaining a subject of debate. My research involves the use of both powder and single-crystal X-ray/neutron diffraction, physical property measurements (DC magnetometry, hall resistivity), inorganic synthesis and complementary methods such as EDX mapping and TGA/DSC. Electron correlations in momentum space may also be observed directly via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy later in the project, giving insight into the evolution of Fermi surface topology with A-site doping and the presence of possible charge density waves in n = 1 phases. I joined the Senn Group in 2024 after obtaining my MSc with Distinction in Analytical Science and Instrumentation from the University of Warwick, where I worked on 1D magnetic halide perovskites formed within single-walled carbon nanotubes under the supervision of Dr Jeremy Sloan and Prof. Richard Walton between the Departments of Chemistry and Physics, with emphasis on electron crystallography and DC magnetometry analysis. Prior to that I obtained my BEng Hons in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nottingham in 2023.