Dr. Mark Senn

Research Fellow

MChem (Durham), PhD (Edinburgh)

Research Summary

Our focus is on understanding the link between microscopic structure of a material and its relationship to the observed macroscopic property. We are engaged in a broad range of research projects from the more fundamental science of understanding phase transitions which occur as a result of orbital, magnetic and molecular-like ordering, to understanding technologically interesting properties such as ferroeletricity and negative thermal expansion. Our work is underpinned by detailed crystallographic studies at central facilities and symmetry analysis of the probed microscopic structures. We also work closely with theorists to develop fundamental mechanistic insights.

Please visit http://senngroup.com/ for more information.

Selected Publications

Please see http://senngroup.com/publications/ or ResearcherID for a full list of pulications.

Emergence of long-range order in BaTiO3 from local symmetry-breaking distortions. Mark S. Senn*, D. A. Keen, T. C. A. Lucas, J. A. Hriljac, and A. L. Goodwin. Phys. Rev Lett. 116 (2016), 207602.

Symmetry Switching of Negative Thermal Expansion by Chemical Control. Mark S. Senn*, Claire A. Murray, Xuan Luo, Lihai Wang, Feiting Huang, S. -W. Cheong, Alessandro Bombardi, Chris Ablitt, Arash A. Mostofi, Nicholas C. Bristowe. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 138 (2016), 5479.

Negative Thermal Expansion in Hybrid Improper Ferroelectric Ruddlesden-Popper Perovskites by Symmetry Trapping. Mark S. Senn*, A. Bombardi, C. A. Murray, C. Vecchini, A. Scherillo, X. Luo, S. W. Cheong, Phys. Rev. Lett. 114 (2015), 035701.

Charge density wave fluctuations in La2-xSrxCuO4 and their competition with superconductivity. TP Croft, C Lester, Mark S. Senn, A Bombardi, SM Hayden. Phys. Rev. B 89 (2014), 224513.

Charge order and three-site distortions in the Verwey structure of magnetite. Mark S. Senn, Jon P. Wright and J. Paul Attfield. Nature 481 (2012) 173-176.

Charge freezing and melting at the border between the molecular and solid states in Ba3NaRu2O9. Simon A. J. Kimber, Mark S. Senn, Simone Fratini, Hua Wu, Adrian H. Hill, Pascal Manuel, J. Paul Attfield, Dimitri N. Argyriou, Paul F, Henry. Phys. Rev. Lett. 108 (2012) 217205.