Dr. Phillip First

Biography

Professor First's research develops an understanding of solid-state systems at atomic length scales. His primary experimental tools include scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and related techniques like ballistic electron emission microscopy (BEEM). These methods leverage the quantum-mechanical tunneling effect to produce atomically-resolved maps of the electronic structure of surfaces, clusters, and buried layers. While many phenomena in crystalline bulk solids can be explained through electronic band structure and continuum models, real materials exhibit technologically important properties due to defects, surfaces, and interfaces. Current research in Professor First's lab focuses on the fundamental physics of ballistic electron transmission, epitaxial material growth, and the electronic properties of nanometer-scale atomic clusters. The development of magnetism in thin films and layered structures, as well as spin-dependent transport in magnetic structures, are also key areas of exploration. Graduate students in his lab acquire valuable hands-on experience with a range of experimental physics techniques, including ultrahigh vacuum technology, cryogenics, surface science techniques, and hardware interfacing. His former Ph.D. students have moved on to prestigious positions in industry, national laboratories, and academia.

Research Interests