Superconductivity and Nonequilibrium Transport in MesoscopicMetals

w：\awards\awards96\*.doc 9801841 Birge 本实验研究计画系关于介观金属样品中的相干电子行为。它集中于两个主题。第一个是研究非平衡输运，使用大量的水库来冷却传导电子和隧道结来探测它们的非平衡分布函数。 第二个主题是与正常和超导金属混合样品中的邻近效应相关的新行为。 一方面的工作涉及无序金属中电子费米液体的基本性质。 该研究计划是跨学科的性质，通常涉及几个本科生和研究生在其活动。 这些参与有利于学生为进一步学习和在工业，政府实验室或学术界的职业生涯做好准备。 %这个实验研究项目关注的是极小金属样品中电子的波动性质。感兴趣的样品的大小是微米级的，或者与一些现代计算机芯片中的有源元件大致相同的大小。 在如此小的样品中，携带电流的电荷以量子力学的方式移动。 这些运动与我们熟悉的物体如网球的运动不同，这些差异对于进一步研究很重要 的 性能 的 计算机 芯片 和 其他微电子器件。这项实验工作是在受控无序的金属样品中进行的，并且还涉及使用外加磁场。 部分工作采用了现代电子束光刻技术。 该研究计划是跨学科的性质，通常涉及几个本科生和研究生在其活动。 这些参与是必要的，为学生的进一步研究和职业生涯在工业，政府实验室或学术界的准备。 ***

w:\awards\awards96\*.doc 9801841 Birge This experimental research project is concerned with coherent electronic behavior in mesoscopic metal samples. It is focused on two topics. First is the study of nonequilibrium transport using massive reservoirs to cool the conduction electrons and tunnel junctions to probe their non-equilibrium distribution function. The second topic novel behavior associated with the proximity effect in hybrid samples with both normal and superconducting metals. The work in one aspect is concerned with the fundamental nature of the electronic Fermi lquid in disordered metals. This research program is interdisciplinary in nature and has typically involved several undergraduate and graduate students in its activities. These involvements are beneficial in the preparation of students for further study and for careers in industry, government laboratories or academia. %%% This experimental research project is concerned with the wave- like nature of electrons in extremely small samples of metal. The size of the samples of interest is on the scale of micro-meters, or roughly the same size scale as active elements in some modern computer chips. The electric charge carrying current in such small samples move in ways governed by quantum mechanics. These motions are different than the motions of familiar objects like tennis balls, and the differences are important to further advance the performance of computer chips and other microelectronic devices. This experimental work is carried out in metal samples of controlled disorder and also involves the use of an applied magnetic field. Modern electron-beam lithography techniques are employed in part of the work. This research program is interdisciplinary in nature and has typically involved several undergraduate and graduate students in its activities. These involvements are be neficial in the preparation of students for further study and for careers in industry, government laboratories or academia. ***