My research centers on the rich physics that emerges from strong electronic correlations, with particular emphasis on systems exhibiting long-range magnetic ordering, lack of ordering (quantum spin liquids), and hidden ordering (multipole physics). I am especially interested in how these strong electron correlations give rise to novel states of matter, unconventional excitations, and emergent properties that challenge our current understanding of quantum materials. To address these questions, I combine experimental studies under extreme conditions of temperature, magnetic field, pressure, and strain with phenomenological modeling and theoretical frameworks rooted in group theory, symmetry constraints stemming from realistic physical systems. My work is carried out individually and in collaboration with leading international groups in the USA, Austria, South Korea, China, and Pakistan, enabling a multifaceted approach to uncovering the fundamental physics of correlated quantum matter. 

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Main Project

1. Valeska Zambra, Amit Nathwani, Muhammad Nauman, Sylvia K Lewin, Corey E Frank, Nicholas P Butch, Arkady Shekhter, BJ Ramshaw, KA Modic "Giant transverse magnetic fluctuations at the edge of re-entrant superconductivity in UTe2",  Nature Communications (In peer review)

2. D. H. Kiem, Muhammad Nauman, J. Choi, D. Graf, J. H. Kim, J. G. Park, Y. Jo*, and M. J. Han*, "Crucial role of magnetic dipole and anomalous field dependence in NiPS3", Advanced Functional Materials (In peer review)

3. Hamza Farooq and Muhammad Nauman*, "Non-linear magnetotropic susceptibility in FePS3",  Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter (Accepted, In Press)

4. Muhammad Nauman, et. al, "Low-field magnetic anisotropy of Sr2IrO4",  Journal of physics condensed matter

5. Muhammad Nauman†, et. al, "Complete mapping of magnetic anisotropy for prototype Ising van der Waals FePS3" 2D Materials

6. Muhammad Nauman*, et. al, "Size dependent magnetic and magnetothermal properties of gadolinium silicide nanoparticles" RSC Advances

7. N. Lee, E. Ko, H. Y. Choi, Y. J. Hong, M. Nauman, et. al, "Antiferromagnet‐Based Spintronic Functionality by Controlling Isospin Domains in a Layered Perovskite Iridate” Advanced Materials 

8. M. Nauman, et. al, "In-plane magnetic anisotropy in strontium iridate Sr2IrO4," Physical Review B
   
   

Collaborative work

9. Jorabar Singh Nirwan, Shan Lou, Saqib Hussain, Muhammad Nauman, Tariq Hussain, Barbara R Conway, Muhammad Usman Ghori , "Electrically tunable lens (ETL) based variable focus imaging system for parametric surface texture analysis of materials", Micromachines

10. Yuzheng Lu, Naila Arshad, Muhammad Sultan Irshad*, Iftikhar Ahmed*, Shafiq Ahmad, Lina Abdullah Alshahrani, Muhammad Yousaf, Abdelaty Edrees Sayed, and Muhammad Nauman "Fe2O3 Nanoparticles Deposited over Self-Floating Facial Sponge for Facile Interfacial Seawater Solar Desalination", crystals

11. MS Dar, Khush Bakhat Akram, Ayesha Sohail, Fatima Arif, Fatemeh Zabihi, Shengyuan Yang, Shamsa Munir, Meifang Zhu, M Abid, Muhammad Nauman, "Heat induction in two-dimensional graphene–Fe3O4 nanohybrids for magnetic hyperthermia applications with artificial neural network modeling" RSC Advances

12. T. Hussain, M. Nauman, S. Sabahat, and S. Arif, "Synthesis of ternary electrocatalysts for exploration of methanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media," Materials Research Express

13. T. Hussain, M. j. Oh, M. Nauman, Y. Jo, G. Han, C. Kim, and W. Kang, "Pressure-induced metal–insulator transitions in chalcogenide NiS2-xSex" Physica B: Condensed Matter 

• “A new probe of multipole physics in Pr-based compounds”

    Approved by: Austria Science Fund (FWF)

    Principal investigator (PI): Muhammad Nauman

    Mentor: Professor Kimberly Modic

   Grant awarded: 300,509.36€ 

   Duration: Three years (May 1, 2022-August 31, 2023 & January 01, 2024 - to - August 31, 2025)

   Status: Active (Running)

• Assisted in the grant titled “Physics of the magnetic layered van der Waals materials” 

PI and Co-PI: Professor Jo Younjung & Professor Choi Jai Young

Supported by: National Research Foundation (NRF) South Korea and Czech Science Foundation (GAČR) the Czech Republic.

Research Associate in R & D tasks: Muhammad Nauman

Status: Concluded

Our research employs a wide range of advanced tools to study the physical properties of quantum and condensed matter systems. From sample preparation at the micro- and nano-scale to high-precision magnetic and transport measurements, these techniques allow us to probe materials under extreme conditions and uncover their exotic behavior. 

I use electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) to determine crystal orientations before preparing samples with Plasma Focused Ion Beam (PFIB) lithography. Scanning electron Microscope (SEM) imaging allows us to manipulate and clean samples with nanometer precision. For example, we prepared and transferred a ~90 µm wide crystal, about the thickness of a human hair, onto a cantilever using a tungsten needle. 

I employ Vibrating Sample Magnetometry (VSM), torque magnetometry, and resonant torsion magnetometry to measure magnetic and thermodynamic responses of materials. These methods provide deep insights into electronic correlations and quantum phases under varied temperature and magnetic fields. 

We study electronic transport using four-probe measurements, pressure cells, and strain tuning setups. These tools allow us to explore how external conditions modify conductivity, resistance, and phase transitions in quantum materials.