Seeing atoms, understanding phases
We are located at the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute and Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
The instrument at the heart of research is the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), providing atomic-resolution images of crystalline materials. We combine ultra-stable cryogenic holders and in situ control knobs to access and manipulate the rich phases of strongly correlated materials.
Atomic-resolution cryo-STEM of low temperature trimers in a 2D material
What we study
Charge & Orbital Order
Direct atomic-scale visualization of symmetry-breaking states in strongly correlated materials, including charge order textures, topological defects, and phase separation.
Ferroelectrics
We probe local correlations and order in ferroelectrics and quantum paraelectrics at low temperatures, to help realize next-generation electro-optical, memory, and energy technologies.
Mesoscopic Order
We map order parameters from the atomic to hundreds-of-nanometer scales, revealing domains, spatially modulated phases, and exotic mesoscopic orderings that break new symmetries and generate new functionalities.
Cryogenic STEM
Development of liquid helium cryogenic sample stages enabling atomic resolution imaging and stable temperature performance down to sub-10 K.
In Situ Tuning
Applying electric fields and uniaxial strain inside the electron microscope to directly visualize domain evolution and coupling between order parameters.
Collective Excitations
Probing momentum-resolved electronic and lattice excitations in correlated matter using 5 meV energy resolution monochromated EELS-STEM.
Openings exist for post-doctoral scientists and current UBC graduate students. Prospective graduate students should first apply to the MSc program at UBC and, if admitted, contact Prof. El Baggari.
View Opportunities →Latest Posts
Research Associate position available
A Research Associate/Staff Scientist position in High Resolution Microscopy and Spectroscopy is available at UBC's Quantum Matter Institute.
hiringCryogenic STEM reveals inverse melting in doped ferroelectric
A cryo-STEM study reveals inverse melting in Zr-doped BaTiO₃, published in Physical Review Letters.
publicationVariable temperature cryogenic STEM reveals charge order melting
Cryogenic STEM reveals the atomic-scale mechanism disrupting charge-ordered states in a manganite. Published in Physical Review X.
publicationHigher resolution in a second prototype liquid helium holder
Our updated prototype shows sub-Angstrom HRTEM imaging, low drift, and millikelvin-level temperature stability.
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