The Faculty of Graduate Studies awarded the researcher Duha Abu Baker a Master’s Degree in Physics in response to her thesis entitled “Structural, Electronic, Elastic and Optical Properties in the Full-Heusler Compounds (Zr₂RhGa,Co₂TiSn) using FP-LAPW Method of Teaching Science”.

The equilibrium structural parameters, electronic, magnetic and elastic properties of the normal and inverse Zr₂RhGa and Co₂TiSn Full-Heusler compounds have been studied using density functional theory (DFT) and full–potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method as implemented in the WIEN2k package. The Generalized Gradient Approximation has been used for the exchange-correlation potential (V_XC) to compute the equilibrium structural parameters; lattice constant (a), bulk modulus (B), bulk modulus pressure derivative (B). In addition to GGA approach, the modified Becke Johnson (mBJ) scheme has been used to calculate the band gap energies. The normal Heusler Co₂TiSn compound and inverse Heusler Zr₂RhGa compound within GGA and mbj approaches are found to have a half-metallic behavior, with an indirect energy gap in the spin down configuration. The total magnetic moment for normal Co₂TiSn and inverse Zr₂RhGa Full-Heusler compounds are to some extent compatible with the experimental and theoretical results. Elastic constants and their related properties were obtained by using IRelast package. The normal Co₂TiSn and inverse Zr₂RhGa Full-Heusler compounds are mechanically stable; are satisfy the Born mechanical stability criteria. B/S ratio shows that the normal Co₂TiSn has a brittle nature. While the inverse has a ductile nature. Poisson’s ratio (ν) values show that the normal Co₂TiSn and inverse Zr₂RhGaFull-Heusler compounds have an ionic bond nature.

The committee consisted of: Dr. Mohammed Abu Jafar as a main supervisor and Chairman, Prof. Jehad Asad as an external examiner and Prof. Mohammed Saeed as an internal examiner.

At the end of the session, the committee approved the success of the researcher and recommended her a Master’s degree.