Materials Characterisation For Tomorrow’s Technologies
The Quantum Design User and Specialist Meeting is a materials characterisation event that brings together researchers, engineers, and instrument users for two days of technical presentations, application-focused discussions, and networking within the materials characterisation community. Hosted in collaboration with leading research institutions, the workshop provides attendees with the opportunity to explore the latest developments across the Quantum Design platform, including MPMS, PPMS DynaCool, VersaLab, and OptiCool systems. The meeting provides a forum for users to exchange experiences, discuss measurement challenges, explore emerging applications, and help shape future developments in materials characterisation technologies.
Our Quantum Design materials characterisation events are attended by both those who are interested in owning one of these systems, as well as existing users. There will be a talks and a tour, as well as invited user talks. These workshops are an ideal opportunity for users and potential users to network as well as to meet the QD-UKI / US teams in person.
Workshop Agenda
🔬 Unlock the MPMS3 – capabilities, options and applications
📊 Better Data, Fewer Problems – measurement best practice
❄️ Discover More of the PPMS Family – capabilities, options and applications
⚡ Push the Limits – low-temperature and high-field measurements
💬 Ask the Engineer – bring your questions to our dedicated Q&A
🎓 Hear From Researchers – including user talks from RAL and the University of Birmingham
🚀 What’s New at Quantum Design – the latest developments across our portfolio
Sharing experiences. Solving measurement challenges. Shaping future capabilities.
Register Now
Register your interest in attending by emailing Marketing Manager Angela Carslake using the button below. Please remember to include details of your organisation, job title, contact details and any dietary requirements.
Meet the Host
GAVIN STENNING, LABORATORY MANAGER, RUTHERFORD APPLETON LABORATORY
Gavin oversees the running and managing of the Materials Characterisation Laboratory supporting the ISIS user programme providing either access to offline instrumentation or performing measurements on behalf of the user. The facility is in high demand for pre beamtime screening of samples, post beamtime complimentary measurements, preliminary measurements for beamtime and collaborative research. Gavin previously worked at the Home Office Scientific Development Branch and his research interests include Magnetism, Thin film, Metamaterials, Superconductivity. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism. His studies were at the University of Southampton – Magnetism and Superconductivity (PhD) and University College London – Physics and Astronomy (MSci)
Meet the Speakers
DR. DARIUS CHOKSY, APPLICATIONS SCIENTIST, QUANTUM DESIGN
Darius received his Ph.D. in 2023 from the University of California, San Diego on the topic of quantum system of indirect excitons. These studies observed attractive and repulsive electric dipolar interactions between bosons and the formation of a Fermi edge singularity in a neutral electron-hole plasma. Darius joined Quantum Design in July 2023 and specialises in optical excitation experiments.
Darius works at QDUSA
“It is always a fruitful experience to meet with different users of our systems, and this year I had the privilege to speak at our UK office’s annual user workshop. Not only does this provide me the opportunity to share more in-depth measurement techniques and give users a better idea of how our measurement option work, it lets me hear about the research that they are doing. The questions after a talk always give the best insight into both a researcher’s specific interests and their approach to measurements.
Having been to a few different national labs in the US, it was really enjoyable to see the facilities at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and learn more about the research being done there. I’m really grateful for the Quantum Design UK and Ireland for hosting us, and hope that the researchers who attended the user workshop look into our annual winter school as an opportunity to go even further in depth with our systems.”
Dr. Darius Choksy, Applications Scientist, Quantum Design
DR MATTHEW COAK, SCHOOL OR PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
“My work focuses on the tuning of low-dimensional quantum magnet systems and materials which exhibit exotic phases like unconventional superconductivity through hydrostatic pressure, low temperatures, and ultra-high magnetic fields. I use pressure to squeeze 2D materials towards becoming fully 3D crystals – controlling dimensionality like this allows us to discover new functional quantum behaviours and states, then inform targeted design of new materials.
To facilitate these high-pressure measurements, often on low-moment antiferromagnets with weak magnetic signals, my colleagues and I developed the SquidLab MATLAB software package. SquidLab allows processing, manipulating and subtracting the magnetic background signal of bulky sample holders or environments to retrieve a small sample signal, then easy fitting and extraction of the magnetic moment. This is all within a flexible, extensible, modular GUI with friendly tutorials and manual, as well as a scriptable API for the enthusiast.”
DR. BEN YAGER, SENIOR MEASUREMENT SCIENTIST, QUANTUM DESIGN OXFORD
Ben Yager is a senior measurement scientist at Quantum Design – Oxford where he has been a core part of the team developing the TeslatronPT Plus measurement platform. He completed his PhD and subsequently spent several years as a postdoc at the London Low Temperature Laboratory in the Physics Department of Royal Holloway, University of London, where he studied quantum fluids in confined geometries at temperatures down to 100 microkelvin. He specialised in SQUID detection techniques, especially for nuclear magnetic resonance and thermometry. He subsequently moved to the Institute for Quantum Computing at University of Waterloo, Ontario extending his studies into ultra-sensitive NMR detection where he worked on nano-MRI using force-detected magnetic resonance.
Talk title: Quantum Design Oxford: Advances in Low Temperature and High Magnetic Field Measurements
The talk will cover QD Oxford’s TeslatronPT Plus and Proteox S products, their applications and use cases.
Previous Materials Characterisation Workshops and Feedback
Registration is free of charge and includes lunch and refreshments. There is limited space at the workshop so early registration is recommended.
“The workshop allowed me to learn from the most knowledgeable people in the business. I gained great insight into Quantum Design’s systems and was given fantastic advice on the considerations that need to be accounted for when taking measurements or working on the equipment. It was a fantastic experience that I would recommend for anyone working with Quantum Design’s equipment.”
Maciej Myszczynski, Trainee Engineering Technician, University of Sheffield
Previous Materials Characterisation Workshop Photos
Quantum Design UK and Ireland (QDUKI) reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any QDUKI event without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video. We will not, however, use identifying information such as names or company/institution without your permission.
Any questions ahead of the event?
Get in touch with our Technical Director, Dr. Shayz Ikram by email or call (01372) 378822.
