Dr. Michael Robertson

Education

B.Sc., University of Waterloo (1988)
Ph.D., University of Waterloo (1996)

Post-Doctoral Experience

Cornell University (1996-1997)

Industrial Experience

Noranda Forest Recycled Papers (1988-1991)
E.B. Eddy Forest Products (1997-1998)
JDS Uniphase Corp. (1998-2002)

Awards and Honours

Acadia Student Union Teaching Recognition Award, Quantum Mechanics I & II (2009-10)
Canada Research Chair in Materials Science (2002-2012)
Jodrey Chair in Physics (2016 - present)

Research Interests

My primary research interest is in the use of scanning and transmission electron microscopy for the characterization and inter-relation of the physical, electronic and optical properties of semiconductor nanostructures.  In addition, I am actively involved in multidisciplinary collaborations with several other researchers at Acadia University.  These research projects are usually motivated by students wishing to study at the interface between two science displiciplines, say, geology and physics.  This gives students the benefits of learning techniques from two fields with the added bonus of being jolly good fun!

Undergraduate Theses

Undergraduate Theses Supervised at Acadia as listed on Acadia Scholar.

Graduate Theses

Shaun Hillier, Optimization of Computational Times for the Simulation of TEM Images, MSc., Memorial University (2011 – 2012, tragically passed away before completion).  Primary Supervisor: Dr. Ronald Haynes, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL.

Eric Karhu, Structural and Magnetic Properties of Epitaxial MnSi(111) Thin Films, Ph.D., Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS (Jan. 2006 - 2012).  Co-Supervisor: Dr. Ted Monchesky, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.

Bahman Hekmatshoar-Tabari, Growth of Polycrystalline Germanium on Plastic Assisted by External Mechanical Stress, Ph.D., University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (2003 - 4).  Primary Supervisor – Dr. Shams Mohajerzadeh, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Davood Shahrjerdi, Fabrication of Thin Film Transistors on Flexible Plastic Substrates, MSc., University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (2003 - 4).  Primary Supervisor – Dr. Shams Mohajerzadeh, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Publications

For a list of my publications, visit this page.

Geological Materials

As a result of a few undergraduate honours students interested in doing their thesis research on a topic that involves both geology and physics, I became interested in the study of geological samples. In particular, the photo- and cathodoluminescent (light emitting) properties of rocks and fossils. To learn more, visit this page.

Optical Methods Applied to Historical Documents

It sometimes happens that ink used in the preparation of documents will fade resulting in reduced contrast between the ink and substrate (paper, parchment, pottery, etc.), often to the point where the writing is no longer readable.  One method for recovering contrast between the ink and substrate is to use imaging techniques involving a variety of light sources, filters and cameras. Even though the ink may be invisible using normal indoor lighting and our eyes, residual ink may absorb, reflect or luminesce with colours outside the normal range of human vision.

Numerical Simulations - (Scanning) Transmission Electron Microscopy

In order to interpet images and diffraction patterns obtained from a (scanning) transmission electron microscope ((S)TEM), numerical simulations often need to be performed. Over the years, my students and I have prepared a number of utilities and software programs to perform these simulations using the multislice method.   Visit this page for more information.

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