CAREER: Macroscopic Quantum Phenomena in Nanomagnets and SQUIDs

量子世界和经典世界的边界在哪里，边界的定义是物理学中一些最基本的问题。这个学院早期职业发展（Career）项目专注于单分子磁体和鱿鱼的低温研究。已知这两种系统都表现出量子特性，例如在介观/宏观尺度上的隧道效应。在这个项目中，新的实验将努力控制这些量子特性，并探索环境自由度如何导致量子态的退相干。单分子磁体的实验将集中于利用施加横向场或单轴应力来控制隧穿过程。在squid中，实验将寻找Aharonov-Casher效应，在这种效应中，隧穿可以通过诱导电荷来调节，这是一种独特的量子效应。此外，还将利用可控的欧姆环境研究SQUID的量子态退相干。我们将研究角动量守恒引起的退相干新机制。所有这些项目都将在本科生的参与下在阿默斯特学院进行。研究还将涉及与马萨诸塞大学阿默斯特分校的教师和学生合作。这个项目的教育方面涉及到阿默斯特学院物理课程的改革。为此，将开设一门新的中级实验课程，强调现代物理实验的实践经验。此外，本课程将引入高级实验选修课程，让学生体验研究型的环境。量子世界和经典世界的边界在哪里，边界的定义是物理学中一些最基本的问题，对实用量子计算机的发展至关重要。这个学院早期职业发展（Career）项目专注于单分子磁铁和超导器件的低温研究，以了解这些系统如何通过与各自环境的相互作用而失去其“量子性”。实验将集中在控制这些系统如何改变它们的量子态，以及通过设计它们与之相互作用的环境。它们的量子行为如何在受控环境下发生改变，将揭示量子-经典边界的本质。所有这些项目都将在本科生的参与下在阿默斯特学院进行。研究还将涉及与马萨诸塞大学阿默斯特分校的教师和学生合作。这个项目的教育方面涉及到阿默斯特学院物理课程的改革。为此，将开设一门新的中级实验课程，强调现代物理实验的实践经验。此外，本课程将引入高级实验选修课程，让学生体验研究型的环境。

Where the frontier between the quantum and classical worlds lies and what defines the border are some of the most fundamental questions in physics. This Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project concentrates on low-temperature studies of single-molecule magnets and SQUIDs. Both of these systems are known to exhibit quantum properties such as tunneling on the mesoscopic/macroscopic scale. In this project, new experiments will endeavor to control these quantum properties and explore how environmental degrees of freedom lead to decoherence of the quantum state. Experiments on single-molecule magnets will focus on controlling the tunneling process using an applied transverse field or uniaxial stress. In SQUIDs, experiments will look for the Aharonov-Casher effect, in which tunneling can be modulated with an induced charge, a uniquely quantum effect. In addition, how the SQUID's quantum state decoheres will be studied by using a controlled ohmic environment. A new mechanism of decoherence due to angular momentum conservation will be investigated. All of these projects will be performed at Amherst College with undergraduate student participation. Research will also involve collaborations with faculty and students at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. The educational aspect of this project involves the revamping of the physics curriculum at Amherst College. To this end, a new intermediate laboratory course emphasizing hands-on experience in modern physics experiments will be developed. Furthermore, an advanced laboratory elective course will be introduced to give students experience in a research-style environment. Where the frontier between the quantum and classical worlds lies and what defines the border are some of the most fundamental questions in physics and are of utmost importance to the development of practical quantum computers. This Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project concentrates on low-temperature studies of single-molecule magnets and superconducting devices to understand how these systems lose their "quantumness" through interactions with their respective environments. Experiments will focus on controlling how these systems change their quantum states and by engineering the environment with which they interact. How their quantum behavior is altered by a controlled environment will shed light on the nature of the quantum-classical frontier. All of these projects will be performed at Amherst College with undergraduate student participation. Research will also involve collaborations with faculty and students at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. The educational aspect of this project involves the revamping of the physics curriculum at Amherst College. To this end, a new intermediate laboratory course emphasizing hands-on experience in modern physics experiments will be developed. Furthermore, an advanced laboratory elective course will be introduced to give students experience in a research-style environment.