Dr. Cormac Mc Guinness

Born in Dublin. Schooled at Oatlands College CBS Stillorgan. Educated in UCD. Obtained Doctorate in UCD. Postdoctoral research in DCU and UCD. Lecturing position in UCD. Postdoctoral research in Boston University. Research Associate Professor in Boston University. Appointed Lecturer in TCD, later obtaining a permanent position. Now an Assistant Professor. Married with two daughters.

  Condensed Matter   Experimental Physics   Magnetism and spin electronics   Molecular electronics   Organic Coatings   PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY   Resonant Inelastic X-ray Scattering   Solid State Physics   Spectroscopy   Surface and interface physics   Surface Physics   Surface Science   Synchrotron Radiation   Theory and computational physics   Thin Film, Technology and Applications   Vacuum Science   XANES   XPS   X-ray Emission Spectroscopy   X-RAY FLUORESCENCE   X-ray Magnetic Circular Dichroism   X-RAY PHOTOEMISSION   X-Ray Spectroscopy   X-RAY-ABSORPTION   X-RAY-SCATTERING   ZNO FILMS

In my research I apply x-ray spectroscopic techniques to investigate electronic structure, where the key aspect of these studies and of all my research output has been combining experimental and theoretical understanding of the systems to a great depth. I and my current students presently work on on-surface synthesis of covalently bonded organic molecular networks and novel functional one-dimensional organic nanostructures investigated through synchrotron-based x-ray spectroscopy. I am successful through peer review of my proposals in obtaining synchrotron facility time for these investigations at MAX-IV/MaxLab(Sweden), BESSY-II(Germany), and for earlier studies at NSLS(USA), ALS(USA), SLS(Switzerland), and Daresbury(UK) synchrotrons. An informed critical evaluation of my best research output would reveal a meticulous understanding of the relevant electronic structure whether in organic semiconductors, phthalocyanines, porphyrins, wide-bandgap nitrides, wide-bandgap/metallic oxides, doped magnetic semiconductors, transition metal oxides, highly correlated electron systems with metal-insulator transitions, superconductivity, as well as ionised atomic species in my early career. I have employed x-ray spectroscopic tools XPS, XAS/NEXAFS, XES/RIXS, XMCD, RAS-MOKE and ARPES to probe or measure site-specific, symmetry-, state- and polarisation-dependent electronic structure of e.g. transition metal oxides and chemical bonds between ligand and oxygen in these oxides as well as of organic molecular semiconductors, phthalocyanines and smaller molecules, whether thin films or monolayers, and magnetic systems like self-assembled one-dimensional atomic-width cobalt nanowires on vicinal surfaces and their changed magnetic behaviour upon gold capping. Whether atoms, molecules, or solids, my simulation of electronic structure of these materials is key to my holistic approach encompassing VB DOS/VBXPS, XES/RIXS, and XAS/NEXAFS simulated via density-functional theory (DFT) methods Wien2K (oxides) and StoBe codes (molecules); or Cowan code (atoms) [in my early career]; and (Cowan-derived) atomic-multiplet methods for resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) and XAS/XPS at metal 2p core levels. I believe the research highlights that best embodies this approach have certainly warranted promotion to Associate Professor before now.