Biography

Chopra’s research is fundamental and focused on physics of magnetism and magnetic materials; evolution of coupled and uncoupled properties from quantum to semi-classical length scales; high-resolution micromagnetic imaging; phase transitions in multiferroics. Key research strategy to break barriers to observing new phenomena is via development of ultra-high resolution (nano to pico-range) techniques.

Research highlights include discovery of non-Joulian magnets that cracked centuries old edifice of Joule’s paradigm on magnetostriction (Nature 2015); discovery of enhanced elastic properties approaching theoretical values in metals at Fermi length scale (PRB 2011, 2012); first direct proof of conductance quantization in metals (PRB 2010); discovery of surface energy based ‘Hume-Rothery’ rule for alloying at mesoscale (J. Appl. Phys., 2012); oscillatory magnetoresistance in quantum conductors (Nature materials, 2005); first observation of magneto-elastic twins in magnetic shape memory alloys strains (PRB, 2000); refining crystal structure of primary strengthening precipitates in aluminum-based aerospace alloys (found not to be structure of Bergman, Waugh and Pauling, Philosophical Magazine Letters, 1995). Dr. Chopra’s research has been variously highlighted by Nature, Science, Science News, MRS, TMS, APS; Scientific American, NSF, etc.

Research Interests: Non-Joulian magnets; magnetism and magnetic properties; micromagnetics; multiferroics; quantized conductance.

Research Interests

  • Mechanics of (Magnetic) Materials Across Length Scales
  • Magneto-elastic Effects and the Modulus-Defect
  • Non-Destructive Testing of Mechanical Properties of Materials

Courses Taught

Number

Name

Level

ENGR 1117

Engineering Graphics

Undergraduate

ENGR 3001

Engineering Economics

Undergraduate

ENGR 3201

Material Science for Engineers

Undergraduate

ENGR 4201

Micro- to Nano-sized Machines

Undergraduate

MEE 5201

Thermodynamics of Materials

Graduate

Selected Publications

  • Pacifico, M.S. & Chopra, H.D. (2019). Anomalous magnetic properties of pre-martensitic iron-palladium alloys. Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 88(1). doi: 10.7566/JPSJ.88.013701

  • Chopra, H.D. (2019). Giant magneto-elastic and magneto-volume effects in Fe–Al. Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 88(3). doi: 10.7566/JPSJ.88.033702