RUI: Ultrafast Optical Studies of Nanoscale Acoustic and Thermal Transport

非技术：这个项目是关于热和超声波在纳米材料中传播的实验研究，这些材料具有技术相关性。超快激光(光脉冲小于百万分之一秒)将被用来产生和检测薄膜中的热波和声波。首先要研究的材料是悬浮在聚合物介质中的碳纳米管组成的纳米复合薄膜。最近开发的制备方法可能会导致薄膜具有更好的热传输，因此它们的研究是当务之急。研究极端超声波(频率是超声波的1000倍)在纳米薄膜和晶体衬底中的传输是第二个要解决的问题。据设想，这种声波可以用来对埋藏的纳米结构进行2-D和3-D成像，并提高清晰度。这项研究的很大一部分将由瓦萨学院的本科生完成。瓦萨学院是一所四年制的文科学院，与新墨西哥州立大学的研究人员合作。接触激光技术和纳米物理的本科生将获得巨大的教育收益，为他们在生物、医学、物理、光学和量子计算领域的职业生涯做好准备。通过参加专业会议，学生们将有机会发展一个由同事和合作者组成的国际网络。技术：这个项目是关于薄膜和纳米结构中热和声学传输的实验研究。为此，将开展超快桌面光学实验和分子模拟。第一个重点是研究悬浮在聚合物主体中的碳纳米管纳米复合薄膜的导热性能。新墨西哥州立大学的研究人员最近开发出了这类薄膜的制造方法，可能会显示出优越的热传输性能。第二个要研究的主题是薄膜和晶体衬底中的相干声学声子(皮秒超声波)的研究。可以预见，0.1到1太赫兹范围内的声学声子可以用于2-D和3-D成像，从而提高埋藏纳米结构的空间分辨率。这项拟议研究的很大一部分将由瓦萨学院(Vassar College)的本科生完成。瓦萨学院是一所四年制文理学院。本科生通过接触超快光学技术和纳米级固态物理，将从这个项目中受益匪浅。

Non-Technical:This project is an experimental investigation of the propagation of heat and ultrasound in nanoscale materials that are of technological relevance. An ultrafast laser (with light pulses of less than 1 millionth of 1 millionth of a second) will be used to, both, produce and detect heat and sound waves in thin films. The materials that will be studied first are nanocomposite thin films composed of carbon nanotubes suspended in a polymer medium. Recently developed fabrication methods may result in films having superior thermal transport, and their investigation is of the immediate priority. The study of the transmission of extreme ultrasound (1000 times higher in frequency than ultrasound) in nanoscale thin films and crystalline substrates is the second problem that will be addressed. It is envisioned that such sound waves could be used for 2-D and 3-D imaging of buried nanostructures with improved clarity. A significant portion of the research will be performed by undergraduate students at Vassar College, a four-year liberal arts college in partnership with researchers at New Mexico State University. The undergraduate students exposed to the laser techniques and the nanoscale physics will draw an enormous educational benefit that will prepare them for careers in biology, medicine, physics, optics, and quantum computations. Through their participation in professional conferences, the students will have an opportunity to develop an international network of colleagues and collaborators.Technical: This project is an experimental investigation of thermal and acoustic transport in thin films and nanostructures. An ultrafast table-top optical experiment and molecular simulations will be developed for this purpose. The first priority is the study of thermal conduction in nanocomposite thin films of carbon nanotubes suspended in a polymer host. Recently developed fabrication methods, by researchers at New Mexico State University, for such films are likely to exhibit superior thermal transport. The second topic to be investigated is the study of coherent acoustic phonons (picosecond ultrasonics) in thin films and crystalline substrates. It is envisioned that acoustic phonons in the 0.1 to 1 THz range could be used for 2-D and 3-D imaging with improved spatial resolution of buried nanostructures. A significant portion of the proposed research will be performed by undergraduate students at Vassar College, a four-year liberal arts college. The undergraduate students, through exposure to the ultrafast optical techniques and the nanoscale solid state physics, will enormously benefit from this project.