The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has named BYU Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Jeremy Johnson as a member of the third annual cohort of Experimental Physics Investigators to achieve remarkable physics insights and open new frontiers. This new cohort of 19 researchers will each receive a five-year, $1.25 million grant to enable them to pursue their research goals and try new ideas.
“This initiative is designed to support novel and potentially high-payoff projects that will advance the field of physics but might be hard to fund through traditional funding sources,” said Theodore Hodapp, program director for the initiative. “We are delighted with the variety of ideas and projects this year's cohort represents.”
The initiative provides flexible funding to pursue imaginative research ideas, allowing the investigators to explore new and uncharted areas and advance the scientific understanding of the natural world.
Changing Material Properties through Crystal Chirality
Johnson’s research primarily focuses on chirality. Chiral structures are mirror images like right and left hands. Chirality affects many aspects of our lives, from the ways we use certain tools like scissors to the biomolecules which make life possible.
In fact, crystal chirality directly impacts the attributes of materials such as magnetic states. Demonstrating control of crystal chirality creates a new “knob” to change the properties of materials.
“Jeremy’s research is transformative,” said Grant Jensen, Dean of the BYU College of Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences. “I’m excited to see the forthcoming discoveries and how they will change the world. We’re proud that this research merited the attention of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation which is sponsoring this project.”
Johnson will examine how laser light can intentionally alter and control crystal chirality and associated properties. For example, he will study how non-magnetic materials can be made magnetic by using light. These fundamental studies will elucidate how materials can be controlled with light to act as ultrafast switches that may lay the foundation for future high-speed computational devices.
“My favorite part of being a professor is working with students and making fascinating discoveries,” said Johnson. “This funding from the Moore Foundation will expand our research capabilities and enable BYU students to learn how light can control material properties for transformative new applications.”
