Matthew J. Highland preview image

Matthew J. Highland

Physicist, Group Leader

Biography

My current principal area of research is in developing and utilizing advanced x-ray scattering techniques and instrumentation to study materials during synthesis, processing, and functioning. Capturing these processes as they occur requires real-time studies with atomic-scale structural sensitivity, for which hard x-rays are ideally suited, and provide insight to materials evolution needed for comprehensive predictive modeling of materials in a wide range of environments. I seek to utilize the increased coherent flux provided by the upgraded APS to address critical questions in the fields of materials science, condensed matter physics, electrochemistry, advanced manufacturing and many others. 

Selected Publications  

  • M.G. Frith, M.J. Highland, Z. Qiao, L. Rebuffi, L. Assoufid, and X. Shi, Development of X-ray beam wavefront sensors for Advanced Photon Source upgrade, Rev. Sci. Inst., 94, 123102, (2023).
  • L. Rebuffi, S. Kandel, X. Shi, R. Zhang, R.J. Harder, W. Cha, M.J. Highland, M.G. Frith, L. Assoufid, and M.J. Cherukara, AutoFocus: AI-driven alignment of nanofocusing X-ray mirror systems, Opt. Exp. Vol. 31, pp. 39514-39527 (2023).
  • D. Sheyfer, R.G. Mariano, T. Kawaguchi, W. Cha. R. Harder, M.K. Kanan, S.O. Hruszkewycz, H. You, M.J. Highland, Operando nanoscale imaging of electrochemically induced strain in a locally polarized Pt grain, Nano Lett. 23, 1 (2023).
  • L. Rebuffi, X. Shi, Z. Qiao, M. J. Highland, M. G. Frith, A. Wojdyla, K. A. Goldberg, and L. Assoufid, Real-time machine-learning-driven control system of a deformable mirror for achieving aberration-free X-ray wavefronts, Optics Express Vol. 31, Issue 13, (2023).
  • K.J. Harmon, N. Delegan, M.J. Highland, H. He, P. Zapol, F.J. Heremans, S.O. Hruszkewycz, Designing silicon carbide heterostructures for quantum information science: challenges and opportunities, Materials for Quantum Technology 2, 023001 (2022).
  • G. Ju, D. Xu, C. Thompson, M.J. Highland, J.A. Eastman, W. Walkosz, P. Zapol, G.B. Stephenson, Burton-Cabrera-Frank theory for surfaces with alternating step types, Phys. Rev. B 105, 054312 (2022).
  • G. Ju, D. Xu, C. Thompson, M.J. Highland, J. A. Eastman, W. Walkosz, P. Zapol, G.B. Stephenson, In-situ microbeam surface x-ray scattering reveals alternating step kinetics during crystal growth, Nat. Comm. 12, 1721 (2021).
  • G. Ju, D. Xu, C. Thompson, M.J. Highland, J.A. Eastman, W. Walkosz, P. Zapol, G.B. Stephenson, Crystal truncation rods from miscut surfaces with alternating terminations, Phys. Rev. B 103, 125402 (2021).
  • S. Maddali, J.-S. Park, H. Sharam, S. Shastri, P. Kenesei, J. Almer, R. Harder, M.J. Highland, Y. Nashed, and S.O. Hruszkewycz, High-energy coherent X-ray diffraction microscopy of polycrystal grains: first steps towards a multi-scale approach, Phys. Rev. Applied 14, 024085 (2020).
  • G. Ju, D. Xu, M.J. Highland, C. Thompson, H. Zhou, J.A. Eastman, P.H. Fuoss, P. Zapol, H. Kim, and G.B. Stephenson, Persistence of island arrangements during layer-by-layer growth revealed using coherent X-ray spectroscopy, Nature Physics 15, 589 (2019).