Dr Steven Clowes

Lecturer, Postgraduate Tutor for ATI

Qualifications: MSc, PhD

Email:
Phone: Work: 01483 68 9827
Room no: 12 ATI 02

Further information

Biography

1994 BSc in Physics from University of York, UK
1995 MSc in Surface Science from Loughborough University, UK
1999 PhD in Experimental Studies of Surface-Adsorbate Interactions and Surface magnetism from University of York, UK
1999-2001 Postdoctoral Research Associate at Rutgers University NJ, USA
2001-2007 Postdoctoral Research Associate at Imperial College London, UK
2007 Laboratory Manager of fabrication facilities for the ATI, University of Surrey
2007 EPSRC Advanced Research Fellow, ATI, University of Surrey
2012 Lecturer of Physics, Department of Physics, University of Surrey

Research Interests

  • Study of spin dependent electron transport in semiconductor devices using optically orientated photo-conductivity measurements.
  • Direct magnetic measurement of optically induced magnetism is doped nanocrystals.
  • Optical control of spin transport in two dimensional topological insulators.
  • Ultrafast spin dynamics in high spin-orbit coupled two dimensional systems.
  • Quantum control of dopants in silicon for quantum information processing.

Research Collaborations

  • Imperial College London
  • National Physics Laboratory, UK
  • Regensburg University, Germany
  • University College London

Publications

Highlights

  • Murdin BN, Li J, Pang ML, Bowyer ET, Litvinenko KL, Clowes SK, Engelkamp H, Pidgeon CR, Galbraith I, Abrosimov NV, Riemann H, Pavlov SG, Hübers HW, Murdin PG. (2013) 'Si:P as a laboratory analogue for hydrogen on high magnetic field white dwarf stars.'. Nature Publishing Group Nat Commun, England: 4

    Abstract

    Laboratory spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen in a magnetic flux density of 10(5) T (1 gigagauss), the maximum observed on high-field magnetic white dwarfs, is impossible because practically available fields are about a thousand times less. In this regime, the cyclotron and binding energies become equal. Here we demonstrate Lyman series spectra for phosphorus impurities in silicon up to the equivalent field, which is scaled to 32.8 T by the effective mass and dielectric constant. The spectra reproduce the high-field theory for free hydrogen, with quadratic Zeeman splitting and strong mixing of spherical harmonics. They show the way for experiments on He and H(2) analogues, and for investigation of He(2), a bound molecule predicted under extreme field conditions.

  • Li J, Litvinenko KL, Clowes SK, Gilbertson AM, Cohen LF. (2012) 'Observation of spin dependent photocoductivity in InSb quantum well nanowires'. AIP Applied Physics Letters, 101 (15)

    Abstract

    We report on the electrical detection of spin dependent photoconductivity in 500 nm wide InSb quantum well nanowires using the optical orientation of electron spins. By applying weak magnetic fields (≈ 200 mT), we observe a spin filtering effect of classical origin caused by spin dependent back scattering of electrons from the sidewalls. Spin dependent features in the longitudinal photovoltage decay with temperature and disappears at characteristic energy (≈ 50 K) consistent with the theoretical spin splitting and the thermal level broadening. We show that the observed signal is due to the inversion asymmetry of the quantum well, with an additional Zeeman contribution. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.

  • Nordin MN, Li J, Clowes SK, Curry RJ. (2012) 'Temperature dependent optical properties of PbS nanocrystals.'. Nanotechnology, England: 23 (27)
  • Li J, Gilbertson AM, Litvinenko KL, Cohen LF, Clowes SK. (2012) 'Transverse focusing of spin-polarized photocurrents'. American Physical Society Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics), 85 Article number 045431

    Abstract

    We measure transverse magnetically focused photocurrent signals in an InSb/InAlSb quantum well device. Using optical spin orientation by modulated circularly polarized light an electron spin-dependent signal is observed due to the spin-orbit interaction. Simulations of the focusing signal are performed using a classical billiard ball model, which includes both spin precession and a spin-dependent electron energy. The simulated data suggest that a signal dependent on the helicity of the incident light is expected for a Rashba parameter α > 0.1 eVÅ and that a splitting of the focusing signal is not expected to be observed in linear polarized photocurrent and purely electrical measurements.

  • Stachel S, Olbrich P, Zoth C, Hagner U, Stangl T, Karl C, Lutz P, Bel'kov VV, Clowes SK, Ashley T, Gilbertson AM, Ganichev SD. (2012) 'Interplay of spin and orbital magnetogyrotropic photogalvanic effects in InSb/(Al,In) Sb quantum well structures'. PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 85 (4) Article number ARTN 045305
  • Leontiadou MA, Litvinenko KL, Gilbertson AM, Pidgeon CR, Branford WR, Cohen LF, Fearn M, Ashley T, Emeny MT, Murdin BN, Clowes SK. (2011) 'Experimental determination of the Rashba coefficient in InSb/InAlSb quantum wells at zero magnetic field and elevated temperatures'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER, 23 (3) Article number ARTN 035801
  • Litvinenko KL, Leontiadou MA, Li J, Clowes SK, Emeny MT, Ashley T, Pidgeon CR, Cohen LF, Murdin BN. (2010) 'Strong dependence of spin dynamics on the orientation of an external magnetic field for InSb and InAs'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 96 (11) Article number ARTN 111107
  • Magnus F, Clowes SK, Gilbertson AM, Branford WR, Barkhoudarov ED, Cohen LF, Singh LJ, Barber ZH, Blamire MG, Buckle PD, Buckle L, Ashley T, Eustace DA, McComb DW. (2007) 'Electrical characterization of MgO tunnel barriers grown on InAs (001) epilayers'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 91 (12) Article number ARTN 122106
  • Itskos G, Harbord E, Clowes SK, Clarke E, Van Dorpe P, Van Roy W, Cohen LF, Murray R, Jantsch W, Schaffler F. (2007) 'Oblique Hanle measurements of InAs/GaAs quantum dot spin-light emitting diodes'. AMER INST PHYSICS Physics of Semiconductors, Pts A and B, Vienna, AUSTRIA: 28th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors (ICPS-28) 893, pp. 1289-1290.
  • Itskos G, Harbord E, Clowes SK, Clarke E, Cohen LF, Murray R, Van Dorpe P, Van Roy W. (2006) 'Oblique Hanle measurements of InAs/GaAs quantum dot spin-light emitting diodes'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 88 (2) Article number ARTN 022113

Journal articles

  • Murdin BN, Li J, Pang ML, Bowyer ET, Litvinenko KL, Clowes SK, Engelkamp H, Pidgeon CR, Galbraith I, Abrosimov NV, Riemann H, Pavlov SG, Hübers HW, Murdin PG. (2013) 'Si:P as a laboratory analogue for hydrogen on high magnetic field white dwarf stars.'. Nature Publishing Group Nat Commun, England: 4

    Abstract

    Laboratory spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen in a magnetic flux density of 10(5) T (1 gigagauss), the maximum observed on high-field magnetic white dwarfs, is impossible because practically available fields are about a thousand times less. In this regime, the cyclotron and binding energies become equal. Here we demonstrate Lyman series spectra for phosphorus impurities in silicon up to the equivalent field, which is scaled to 32.8 T by the effective mass and dielectric constant. The spectra reproduce the high-field theory for free hydrogen, with quadratic Zeeman splitting and strong mixing of spherical harmonics. They show the way for experiments on He and H(2) analogues, and for investigation of He(2), a bound molecule predicted under extreme field conditions.

  • Li J, Litvinenko KL, Clowes SK, Gilbertson AM, Cohen LF. (2012) 'Observation of spin dependent photocoductivity in InSb quantum well nanowires'. AIP Applied Physics Letters, 101 (15)

    Abstract

    We report on the electrical detection of spin dependent photoconductivity in 500 nm wide InSb quantum well nanowires using the optical orientation of electron spins. By applying weak magnetic fields (≈ 200 mT), we observe a spin filtering effect of classical origin caused by spin dependent back scattering of electrons from the sidewalls. Spin dependent features in the longitudinal photovoltage decay with temperature and disappears at characteristic energy (≈ 50 K) consistent with the theoretical spin splitting and the thermal level broadening. We show that the observed signal is due to the inversion asymmetry of the quantum well, with an additional Zeeman contribution. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.

  • Nordin MN, Li J, Clowes SK, Curry RJ. (2012) 'Temperature dependent optical properties of PbS nanocrystals.'. Nanotechnology, England: 23 (27)
  • Li J, Gilbertson AM, Litvinenko KL, Cohen LF, Clowes SK. (2012) 'Transverse focusing of spin-polarized photocurrents'. American Physical Society Physical Review B (Condensed Matter and Materials Physics), 85 Article number 045431

    Abstract

    We measure transverse magnetically focused photocurrent signals in an InSb/InAlSb quantum well device. Using optical spin orientation by modulated circularly polarized light an electron spin-dependent signal is observed due to the spin-orbit interaction. Simulations of the focusing signal are performed using a classical billiard ball model, which includes both spin precession and a spin-dependent electron energy. The simulated data suggest that a signal dependent on the helicity of the incident light is expected for a Rashba parameter α > 0.1 eVÅ and that a splitting of the focusing signal is not expected to be observed in linear polarized photocurrent and purely electrical measurements.

  • Stachel S, Olbrich P, Zoth C, Hagner U, Stangl T, Karl C, Lutz P, Bel'kov VV, Clowes SK, Ashley T, Gilbertson AM, Ganichev SD. (2012) 'Interplay of spin and orbital magnetogyrotropic photogalvanic effects in InSb/(Al,In) Sb quantum well structures'. PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 85 (4) Article number ARTN 045305
  • Abdul Rahman AT, Bräuer-Krisch E, Brochard T, Adamovics J, Clowes SK, Bradley D, Doran SJ. (2011) 'Sophisticated test objects for the quality assurance of optical computed tomography scanners.'. Phys Med Biol, England: 56 (14), pp. 4177-4199.
  • Leontiadou MA, Litvinenko KL, Gilbertson AM, Pidgeon CR, Branford WR, Cohen LF, Fearn M, Ashley T, Emeny MT, Murdin BN, Clowes SK. (2011) 'Experimental determination of the Rashba coefficient in InSb/InAlSb quantum wells at zero magnetic field and elevated temperatures'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-CONDENSED MATTER, 23 (3) Article number ARTN 035801
  • Litvinenko KL, Leontiadou MA, Li J, Clowes SK, Emeny MT, Ashley T, Pidgeon CR, Cohen LF, Murdin BN. (2010) 'Strong dependence of spin dynamics on the orientation of an external magnetic field for InSb and InAs'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 96 (11) Article number ARTN 111107
  • Magnus F, Yates KA, Clowes SK, Miyoshi Y, Bugoslavsky Y, Cohen LF, Aziz A, Burnell G, Blamire MG, Josephs-Franks PW. (2008) 'Interface properties of Pb/InAs planar structures for Andreev spectroscopy'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 92 (1) Article number ARTN 012501
  • Magnus F, Clowes SK, Gilbertson AM, Branford WR, Barkhoudarov ED, Cohen LF, Singh LJ, Barber ZH, Blamire MG, Buckle PD, Buckle L, Ashley T, Eustace DA, McComb DW. (2007) 'Electrical characterization of MgO tunnel barriers grown on InAs (001) epilayers'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 91 (12) Article number ARTN 122106
  • Singh LJ, Oliver RA, Barber ZH, Eustace DA, McComb DW, Clowes SK, Gilbertson AM, Magnus F, Branford WR, Cohen LF, Buckle L, Buckle PD, Ashley T. (2007) 'Preparation of InAs(001) surface for spin injection via a chemical route'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS, 40 (10), pp. 3190-3193.
  • Branford WR, Singh LJ, Barber ZH, Kohn A, Petford-Long AK, Van Roy W, Magnus F, Morrison K, Clowes SK, Bugoslavsky YV, Cohen LF. (2007) 'Temperature insensitivity of the spin-polarization in Co2MnSi films on GaAs (001)'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS, 9 Article number PII S1367-2630(07)34448-0
  • Zhang T, Harris JJ, Branford WR, Clowes SK, Cohen LF, Solin SA. (2006) 'Exploration of the inherent magnetoresistance in InSb thin films'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD SEMICONDUCTOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 21 (12), pp. 1543-1546.
  • Litvinenko KL, Murdin BN, Allam J, Pidgeon CR, Bird M, Morris K, Branford W, Clowes SK, Cohen LF, Ashley T, Buckle L. (2006) 'Spin relaxation in n-InSb/AlInSb quantum wells'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS, 8 Article number PII S1367-2630(06)15617-7
  • Itskos G, Harbord E, Clowes SK, Clarke E, Cohen LF, Murray R, Van Dorpe P, Van Roy W. (2006) 'Oblique Hanle measurements of InAs/GaAs quantum dot spin-light emitting diodes'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 88 (2) Article number ARTN 022113
  • Zhang T, Harris JJ, Branford WR, Bugoslavsky YV, Clowes SK, Cohen LF, Husmann A, Solin SA. (2006) 'Tuning the inherent magnetoresistance of InSb thin films'. AMER INST PHYSICS APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 88 (1) Article number ARTN 012110
  • Zhang T, Harris JJ, Clowes SK, Debnath M, Bennett A, Cohen LF, Lyford T, Fewster PF. (2005) 'Evidence for dislocation-related amphoteric behaviour of Si dopant in high-mobility InSb thin films'. IOP PUBLISHING LTD SEMICONDUCTOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 20 (12), pp. 1153-1156.

Conference papers

  • Leontiadou MA, Litvinenko KL, Clowes SK, Springholz G, Schwarzl T, Eibelhuber M, Heiss W, Pidgeon CR, Murdin BN. (2011) 'Substantial temperature dependence of transverse electron g*-factor in lead chalcogenide multi-quantum wells'. American Institute of Physics AIP Conference Proceedings, Blacksburg, USA: 15TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NARROW GAP SYSTEMS 1416, pp. 178-180.
  • Litvinenko K, Leontiadou M, Li J, Bowyer E, Clowes S, Pidgeon CR, Murdin B. (2011) 'Manipulation of spin dynamics in semiconductor structures by orientation of small external magnetic field'. American Institute of Physics AIP Conference Proceedings, Seoul, South Korea: ICPS2010, 30th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors 1399, pp. 657-658.
  • Yahya I, Mustaza SM, Stolojan V, Clowes S, Silva SRP. (2010) 'Carbon nanotube field effect transistor measurements in vacuum'. IEEE International Conference on Semiconductor Electronics, Proceedings, ICSE, , pp. 224-228.
  • Branford WR, Gilbertson AM, Buckle PD, Buckle L, Ashley T, Magnus F, Clowes SK, Harris JJ, Cohen LF, Murdin BN, Clowes S. (2008) 'Gate dependence of spin-splitting in an InSb/InAlSb quantum well'. SPRINGER NARROW GAP SEMICONDUCTORS 2007, Guildford, ENGLAND: 13th International Conference on Narrow Gap Semiconductors 119, pp. 3-5.
  • Eustace DA, McComb DW, Buckle L, Buckle P, Ashley T, Singh LJ, Barber ZH, Gilbertson AM, Branford WR, Clowes SK, Cohen LF, Cullis AG, Midgley PA. (2008) '(S)TEM Characterisation of InAs/MgO/Co Multilayers'. SPRINGER-VERLAG BERLIN MICROSCOPY OF SEMICONDUCTING MATERIALS 2007, Univ Cambridge, Cambridge, ENGLAND: 15th Conference on Microscopy of Semiconducting Materials 120, pp. 153-156.
  • Litvinenko KL, Murdin BN, Clowes SK, Nikzad L, Allam J, Pidgeon CR, Branford W, Cohen LF, Ashley T, Buckle L, Murdin BN, Clowes S. (2008) 'Density and well-width dependence of the spin relaxation in n-InSb/AlInSb quantum wells'. SPRINGER NARROW GAP SEMICONDUCTORS 2007, Guildford, ENGLAND: 13th International Conference on Narrow Gap Semiconductors 119, pp. 19-21.
  • Clowes SK, Branford WR, Gilbertson AM, Zhang T, Buckle L, Husmann A, Solin SA, Cohen LF, Jantsch W, Schaffler F. (2007) 'Improved geometric control of the high-field linear magnetoresistance by metallic bridges in InSb arrays'. AMER INST PHYSICS Physics of Semiconductors, Pts A and B, Vienna, AUSTRIA: 28th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors (ICPS-28) 893, pp. 1383-1384.
  • Magnus F, Burnell G, Miyoshi Y, Yates KA, Bugoslavsky Y, Clowes SK, Josephs-Franks PW, Blamire MG, Cohen LF, Jantsch W, Schaffler F. (2007) 'Planar Andreev spectroscopy in InAs'. AMER INST PHYSICS Physics of Semiconductors, Pts A and B, Vienna, AUSTRIA: 28th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors (ICPS-28) 893, pp. 1281-1282.
  • Zhang T, Harris JJ, Branford WR, Clowes SK, Cohen LF, Solin SA, Jantsch W, Schaffler F. (2007) 'Inherent magnetoresistance and surface morphology of InSb thin films'. AMER INST PHYSICS Physics of Semiconductors, Pts A and B, Vienna, AUSTRIA: 28th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors (ICPS-28) 893, pp. 561-562.
  • Itskos G, Harbord E, Clowes SK, Clarke E, Van Dorpe P, Van Roy W, Cohen LF, Murray R, Jantsch W, Schaffler F. (2007) 'Oblique Hanle measurements of InAs/GaAs quantum dot spin-light emitting diodes'. AMER INST PHYSICS Physics of Semiconductors, Pts A and B, Vienna, AUSTRIA: 28th International Conference on the Physics of Semiconductors (ICPS-28) 893, pp. 1289-1290.

Books

  • Murdin BN, Clowes SK. (2008) Narrow gap semiconductors 2007. Springer

Teaching

Year 2 

Module co-ordinator of "From Atoms to Lasers" 
Leader of Semester 2 Undergraduate Laboratory.

Professional Training visiting tutor

MSc Radiation Detection Instrumention

Introduction of LabView

Departmental Duties

Postgraduate Tutor for Advanced Technology Institute

Coordinator and founder of the National Instruments Academy in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, providing LabView training for post-graduate researchers and research staff.

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