NSEC: Center for Probing the Nanoscale

斯坦福大学纳米尺度科学与工程中心（CPN）致力于新型纳米探针的开发以及这些探针的应用，以回答科学和技术中的基本问题。该中心是斯坦福大学和IBM的合作项目，有来自5个系的13名参与者，其中3名来自IBM。将开发的具有革命性功能的新型探针的例子包括：扫描隧道电位器，可以在10纳米长度尺度上进行电传输测量；空间分辨率为30 nm的扫描霍尔探针显微镜；近场扫描光学显微镜，吞吐量提高一千倍；具有亚微米空间分辨率和接近量子极限灵敏度的squid，能够探测单个电子的自旋；可在低温下进行电子自旋共振实验的扫描隧道显微镜；一种磁共振力显微镜，可以检测单个电子的自旋，指定电子的位置，并测量自旋的量子力学状态。这些探针将用于回答许多基本问题，例如：量子力学行为跨越到经典扩散输运的长度尺度是多少？电子的自旋状态如何随时间和距离变化？当电子穿过平面界面时，电子的自旋表现如何？高温超导体的固定机制是什么？该中心还通过种子项目支持高风险、潜在高回报的项目。预计该中心将通过其工业和教育推广计划以及对纳米尺度科学和工程的社会和伦理问题的研究产生更广泛的影响。该中心期望提高纳米技术社区测量、成像和控制纳米级现象的能力。与纳米探针仪器的用户和制造商的具体联系将被用来快速转移技术进步。该中心致力于教育下一代科学家和工程师关于新型纳米探针的理论，实践和影响。该中心有一个活跃的本科生研究项目，包括在IBM的本科生研究机会。CPN研究员计划将支持从事纳米探针研究和教育的研究生、博士后和访客。预计每年将有数千名中学生参加中学教师暑期学院。

The Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center at Stanford University on Probing the Nanoscale (CPN) addresses the development of novel nanoprobes and application of these probes to answer fundamental questions in science and technology. The Center, which is a partnership between Stanford and IBM, has 13 participants from 5 departments, including 3 participants from IBM. Examples of novel probes with revolutionary capabilities that will be developed include: a scanning tunneling potentiometer which can make electrical transport measurements on 10-nm length scales; a scanning Hall probe microscope with 30-nm spatial resolution; a near-field scanning optical microscopes with a thousand fold improvement in throughput; SQUIDs with sub-micron spatial resolution and sensitivity approaching the quantum limit with the ability to detect the spin of a single electron; a scanning tunneling microscope which can conduct electron spin resonance experiments at cryogenic temperatures; a magnetic resonance force microscope that can detect the spin of a single electron, specify the location of the electron, and measure the quantum mechanical state of the spin. These probes will be applied to answer many fundamental questions such as these: What is the length scale over which quantum mechanical behavior crosses over to become classical diffusive transport? How does the spin state of an electron vary over time and distance? How do the spins of electrons behave when the electrons cross a planar interface? What are the mechanisms of pinning in high-temperature superconductors? The Center also supports high risk, potentially high pay-off projects through a seed program. The center is expected to have broader impact through its industrial and education outreach programs and its study of societal and ethical issues of nanoscale science and engineering. The Center expects to enhance the capabilities of the nanotechnology community to measure, image, and control nanoscale phenomena. Specific connections to users and manufacturers of nanoprobe instrumentation will be utilized to rapidly transfer technological advances. The Center is committed to educating the next generation of scientists and engineers regarding the theory, practice, and implications of novel nanoprobes. The Center has an active undergraduate research program, including undergraduate research opportunities at IBM. The CPN Fellows Program will support graduate students, postdocs, and visitors engaged in nanoprobe research and education. A Summer Institute for Middle School Teachers is anticipated to touch thousands of middle school students each year.