r Frano X Lab

X Lab

X-ray Laboratory for Research on Quantum Materials

Welcome!

Welcome to the Frano X Lab (a.k.a The X-ray Laboratory for Research on Quantum Materials). Based at the University of California, San Diego near the sunny beaches of La Jolla, CA, our group studies the fascinating properties of materials with strongly correlated electrons. We are interested in investigating long-range periodicities in the spin, charge, and orbital quantum states observed in transition-metal-oxide films, superlattices, heterostructures and single crystals. To explore these spatially periodic behaviors we operate in Fourier space by performing modern x-ray scattering experiments at synchrotrons around the world. Feel free to explore our website for more information.

News

Our discovery that thin films can “push and pull” on their substrates was highlighted in UC San Diego Today.

Our work on VO2 neuromorphic devices was recognized as a finalist for the 2026 ACS Nano Impact Award (2026).



We expand our research horizons from hard condensed matter to soft matter, using neutron scattering to probe the dynamics of polymer-integrated protein crystals.


All News

Research

Quantum Materials

Quantum Materials
We Work on

Quantum Materials
at the Nanoscale

Quantum Periodicities

How We Do It

Where We Do it

The Process

how is it done?

Imagine It

  • Determine material components of heterostructure
  • Grow it using PLD
  • Characterize the sample here at UCSD using x rays and other in-house facilities

Synchrotron It

  • Apply for beam time
  • Bring sample to the synchrotron
  • Use synchrotron x rays to characterize material and discover new periodicities

Write It

  • Analyze the data
  • Python, Matlab, Mathematica
  • Write and share our discoveries

Repeat!

Publications

Publication highlights:

We harnessed a nickelate phase transition to enhance spin-to-charge conversion (2026).
We Discovered That Switching Thin Films Imprint Strain Deep Into Their Substrates (2026).
We Explored How Operando Microscopy Can Guide the Future of Neuromorphic Hardware (2026).
Spin Spirals and Charge Textures in Transition-Metal-Oxide Heterostructures
All Publications

Members

Full List of Members
Alex Frano

Principal Investigator

(CV)
Dong Le

Graduate PhD Student
Robin Glefke

Graduate PhD Student
Kate Matthews

Graduate PhD Student
Wei "Francis" He

Graduate PhD Student
Ahsley Corey

Graduate PhD Student
Holden Bauer

Graduate PhD Student
Quinn Picard

Graduate MSc Student
Reno Sammons

Graduate MSc Student
Mira Mahendru

Graduate MSc Student
Larissa Baltazar

Undergraduate Student
Ella di Liberti

Undergraduate Student
Benjamin Savala

Undergraduate Student
Jacob Butler

Undergraduate Student

Links

check these out!

Synchrotrons

Online Lectures

Physics Organizations

Links for Students

Cool Physics Videos

UCSD Resources

Contact us

If you have any questions about our research, or about condensed matter physics, please email us: afrano physics [dot] ucsd [dot] edu


CREDITS

Website Design: Ashley Nicole Warner

Logo and Cartoon Designs: Mario Rojas

Text Proofreading/Editing: Rock Paper Editing