Superconductivity and Nonequilibrium Transport in MesoscopicMetals

本实验研究项目涉及介观金属样品中的相干电子行为。它主要关注两个主题。首先是研究非平衡输运，利用大量储层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邻近效应相关的新行为。一个方面的工作涉及无序金属中电子费米液体的基本性质。这个研究项目本质上是跨学科的，通常涉及几个本科生和研究生的活动。这些参与有利于学生为进一步的学习和在工业、政府实验室或学术界的职业生涯做准备。这个实验研究项目涉及极小金属样品中电子的波状性质。我们感兴趣的样本的尺寸在微米的尺度上，或者与一些现代计算机芯片中的有源元件的尺寸大致相同。在这样小的样本中，携带电流的电荷以量子力学控制的方式运动。这些运动与我们熟悉的物体（如网球）的运动不同，这种差异对于进一步提高计算机芯片和其他微电子设备的性能非常重要。这项实验工作是在受控无序的金属样品中进行的，也涉及到应用磁场的使用。部分工作采用了现代电子束光刻技术。这个研究项目本质上是跨学科的，通常涉及几个本科生和研究生的活动。这些参与有助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. ***