Monika Verma |
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Research Interests
- DNA nanotechnology
- Photonic crystals
Research Area
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A photonic band gap material is an artificially created crystal that selectively forbids the propagation of light at specific wavelength. These materials have a dielectric configuration that varies on a length scale equal to the wavelength of the light to be forbidden. Due to their ability to alter the path of light of a specific wavelength,they offer number of applications such as mirrors,filters,fibers,very fine lasers,nanolithography, x-ray optics etc . One of today's challenge is to design crystals which forbid a given wavelength at nanoscale. The fabrication of photonic band gap materials or photonic crystals requires the ability to manipulate materials of contrasting dielectric properties on the nanoscale level. These crystals can be engineered either with the top down approach utilized in lithographic and etching techniques or the bottom up approach of self-assembly utilized in colloidal suspensions. Both methods deal with controlling the geometry of traditional semiconductor materials. The Watson-Crick base pairing of DNA presents an alternative medium that can be employed in the self-assembly of photonic crystals. Through careful control of the molecule 's nucleic acid sequence, DNA can form stable branched junctions. The FORTRAN code SEQUIN aids in the design of branched junctions based on these sequence requirements. These junctions have been used as building blocks for molecular crystals, nanoscale devices and DNA computers.Further, impurites can be introduced in the structure of photonic crystal which has the potential to meet the desire to control optics at very small (nano)wavelength, thereby creating opportunities for advances in both science and technology.
Education
- 1998, B.Sc. (Physics Honours) ,Center for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
- 2000, M.Sc. in Physics, Center for Advanced Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
- 2004, B.Ed., Govt. college for education, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
Achievements
- Best Paper Award at annual conference of American Assosciation Of Engineers of Indian origin (ASEI)
- Graduate student of the year 2006 award by ASEI