Research Highlights:
- Investigation of the electrical transport and thermoelectric properties of Fe3O4/SiO2/p-Si(100) heterostructures grown by PLD; state-of-the-art values of thermoelectric power factor were obtained at room temperature;
- Nanopatterning of Ti alloy surfaces and magnetic gratings in Fe-V thin-film alloys by femtosecond laser interference was demonstrated;
- It was shown that: i) an alternating magnetic field applied to a patterned heterostructure with different saturation magnetizations can excite dipolar spin waves within a narrow frequency band; ii) a dc current causes a frequency shift of the spin-wave propagation gap associated with the spin-wave Doppler effect, with potential application in driving on-chip microwave magnetic devices.
- It was shown that transport spin polarization in CrO2 films is not sensitive to morphological changes and to temperature, which is encouraging for spintronic applications.
- It was shown that oxygen vacancies play a fundamental role in promoting the long-range ferromagnetic order in anatase Co:TiO2 nanopowders,.
- Ti alloys with optimized biomechanical behavior in the Ti-M1-M2 systems (M1, M2 = Mo, Nb, Zr, Ta) were designed by laser-assisted combinatorial synthesis. These alloys have potential for bone-replacement applications where intense stress-shielding effects may occur.
- The microstructure control mechanisms in Al-based metal matrix composites deposited by laser cladding were identified and the deposition parameters optimized.
- The conditions for epitaxial growth in laser powder deposition of single crystalline Ni-based superalloys were established and the explanation for the γ/γ’ abnormal precipition often obseved in laser deposited material found. On the basis of this knowledge heat treatments leading to the correct microstructure were developed.
- It was shown that high intensity ultrafast laser ablation of dentin, enamel and bone occurs by an ablation that minimizes degradation of the remaining tissue and has great potential for minimally invasive surgery.
- A method for medium and short-distance remote detection and characterization of oil spills based on spectral analysis of laser-induced fluorescence generated by a frequency-tripled Nd:YAG laser was developed.
- The migratory rhythms of epipelic benthic microalgae in muddy sediments were investigated by LIF:LIDAR for the first time. The progressive accumulation of biomass in the upper sediment during diurnal low tide periods followed by rapid downward migration before high tide could be detected.
- An innovative bit-mapped laser cork marking system was developed for the Company Azevedos Industria.
- It was demonstrated that the nanoplanes created in bulk silica by a high intensity femtosecond laser pulse contain a large proportion of O vacancies. Heat conduction for the bulk induces precipitation of hexagonal SiO2 4-10 nm nanocrystals.
- Detection and evaluation of health and photo-physiological status or algae and higher plants using laser induced fluorescence
- Evaluation of biomass and migration cycles of the microphytobenthic communities using optical methods
- Development of optical methods for remote fire and intrusion detection
- Search for technical solutions for pulsed — in particular, localized — wave generation by transient currents originated from interaction between radiation and medium