Nonlinear Optical Probing of Ferroic and Multiferroic Domain Dynamics

技术上的。智力价值：本项目的重点是促进对复杂的磁区微结构及其在不同条件下的动力学的基本理解，如温度、电场、磁场和应变。该项目涉及两个新领域，多铁材料中的铁电-磁耦合现象，以及铁性和多铁性材料性质的大应变增强。该方法结合了二阶和三阶非线性光学测量中的幅度、相位、偏振、光谱和成像，以研究应变铁质和多铁质。其目的是了解磁畴结构、电磁磁畴耦合和动力学以及相变。此外，还将进行同步的现场介电测量和磁介电测量，以关联来自多个铁相的电、磁和光响应，以了解耦合的磁铁电现象。在第一原理理论、唯象模型、薄膜合成、晶体生长、X射线和电子显微镜表征以及磁性测量方面的合作是该项目不可或缺的组成部分。非技术性。广泛影响：该项目涉及与电子和光子学具有很强技术相关性的基础材料研究，并有效地将研究和教育结合在一起。该项目促进了学生在协作互动中的跨学科教育。研究生和本科生将参与该项目，使他们能够在前沿研究方面获得实践经验。PI将利用宾夕法尼亚州立大学科学与工程女性(WISE)周和SROP(少数族裔学生暑期研究机会计划)继续为高中女孩和代表不足的群体举办每年一次的“光的科学和技术”研讨会。

Technical. Intellectual Merit: The focus of this project is to advance fundamental understanding of complex domain microstructures and their dynamics under diverse conditions such as temperature, electric, magnetic fields, and strain. The project deals with two new areas, coupled ferroelectric-magnetic phenomena in multiferroic materials, and large strain enhancements in ferroic and multiferroic material properties. The approach combines amplitude, phase, polarization, spectroscopy and imaging in second and third order nonlinear optical measurements to study strained ferroics and multiferroics. The aim is to understand domain structure, electrical-magnetic domain coupling and dynamics, and phase transitions. Also, simultaneous in-situ dielectric and magneto-dielectric measurements will be performed to correlate electrical, magnetic and optical responses from multiferroics for understanding coupled magnetic-ferroelectric phenomena. Collaborations on first principles theory, phenomenological modeling, film synthesis, crystal growth, x-ray and electron microscopy characterization, and magnetic measurements are integral to the project. Nontechnical.Broader Impact: The project addresses fundamental materials research with strong technological relevance to electronics and photonics, and effectively integrates research and education. The project facilitates interdisciplinary education of students in collaborative interactions. Graduate and undergraduate students will participate in the project allowing them to gain hands-on experience in forefront research. The PI will capitalize on Penn State-Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) Week, and SROP (Summer Research Opportunity Program for minority students) -for continuing a workshop on "The Science and Technology of Light" for high school girls and underrepresented groups annually.