CAREER: Spin degree of freedom in hole semiconductor nanostructures

自旋是物质的一种迷人的特性，它没有经典的类比，在主流的电荷电子学中基本上被忽略了。随着传统设备的可扩展性接近枯竭，在寻找替代设备范例的研究中，自旋自由度移动到研究的前沿。半导体纳米结构中的空穴由于其潜在的非常长的自旋弛豫时间，对未来实现自旋电子器件特别有吸引力。本提案的目标是了解p型半导体纳米结构中自旋相互作用的机制，开发功能性自旋量子器件，并开发与本研究项目紧密结合的多功能教育计划。半导体纳米结构提供了一个独特的可控环境，在这个环境中，单个自旋可以被隔离，并且可以研究其相互作用的基本方面。孔纳米结构有一组特殊的参数和对称性，这在很大程度上是未知的。强各向异性的交换相互作用，有效质量和高指数晶体轴的$g$因子将允许申请人研究有助于自旋弛豫的不同机制，并设计有效的自旋操纵方法。与自旋电子学和量子信息处理等新兴领域相关的应用将被研究。教育活动是拟议的职业发展计划的重要组成部分，并与拟议的研究计划紧密结合，其中包括(i)通过直接参与拟议的研究计划，培训研究生和本科生使用最先进的实验技术，（ii）开发一门特殊课程“低维系统物理学”，（iii）开发K-12学生的丰富计划。

Spin is a fascinating property of matter which has no classical analog and which is largely ignored in mainstream charge-based electronics. As the scalability of conventional devices nears exhaustion, the spin degree of freedom moves to the forefront of research in the quest to find alternative device paradigms. Holesin semiconductor nanostructures are especially attractive for future implementation of spintronic devices due to their potentially very long spin relaxation times. The goal of this proposal is to understand mechanisms of spin interactions in p-type semiconductor nanostructures, to develop functional spin-based quantum devices, and to develop a versatile educational program closely integrated with this research project.Semiconductor nanostructures provide a unique controllable environment where a single spin can be isolated and fundamental aspects of its interactions can be investigated. Hole nanostructures have a peculiar set of parameters and symmetries that are largely unexplored. Strong anisotropy of exchange interaction, effective mass and $g$-factor for high index crystallographic axises will allow the applicant to investigate different mechanisms contributing to spin relaxation and to devise efficient methods of spin manipulation. Applications relevant to the emerging fields of spintronics and quantum information processing will be investigated.Educational activities are an essential part of the proposed career development plan and are closely integrated with the proposed research program, which include (i) training of graduate and undergraduate students in state-of-the-art experimental techniques via their direct involvement in the proposed research program, (ii) development of a special course ``Physics of Low-dimensional Systems'' and (iii) development of an enrichment program for K-12 students.