Visitenkarte Dr. Kaustuv Datta
Junior Research Group Leader (Heisenberg programme)
I am a Heisenberg Fellow at the HZB funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).
Research topic/ expertise:
Ferroelectric materials, known for their reversible spontaneous polarization, are essential for applications in memory devices, sensors, and energy storage. Their properties are often governed by local structural distortions that deviate from the average crystallographic symmetry. The total scattering method, particularly pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, provides a powerful means to investigate these local structural variations by capturing both Bragg and diffuse scattering signals. This approach has been successfully applied to materials such as PbTiO₃, where local Ti off-centering differs from the average structure, and BaTiO₃, where phase transitions involve intricate local distortions. Studies on relaxor ferroelectrics like Pb(Mg₁/₃Nb₂/₃)O₃ (PMN) have revealed nanoscale polar regions that play a key role in their unique dielectric properties. By integrating total scattering data with advanced computational modeling, researchers can uncover hidden structural correlations that dictate ferroelectric behavior, aiding the design of next-generation functional materials.
Teaching:
MSc Course running every summer semester at the Department of Physics in FU.
Course Title: ''Modern X-ray and Neutron Scattering Methods for the Determination of Structures and Symmetry of Solids''
Selected publications: