MRI: Acquisition of Ultrafast Spectroscopy Instrumentation for Materials Research and Education

技术摘要圣母大学将获得一个滨松条纹相机纳入纳米光学实验室。 该仪器将使各种半导体的亚皮秒时间分辨光谱成为可能，并将与近场扫描光学显微镜（NSOM）系统结合使用。这将使单个纳米结构能够在低温（1.4K）和高磁场（12 T）下以meV的光谱分辨率，~40-50 nm的空间分辨率和fsec的时间分辨率进行研究。这个最先进的设施将用于研究与纳米技术有关的广泛问题，其中包括：III-V族氮化物半导体的光学特性，宽带隙和窄带隙（GaN，InN及其三元合金），III-V族和II-VI族的量子线和量子点，磁性半导体化合物和半导体氧化物。其中许多系统将通过与40多名研究人员的合作进行研究，并与能源部和国际实验室密切合作。这种仪器的收购将有强大的教育影响学生在入门和先进的水平。将加强妇女和代表性不足的少数民族的参与，并使与两个小企业的互动成为可能。随着过去30年的“硅革命”使信息和通信技术的飞速发展成为可能，许多新材料正在进行紧张的研究。了解它们的基本光学性质对于进步至关重要。 圣母大学的纳米光学实验室已经拥有近场光学显微镜，能够对比传统光学显微镜小数百倍的物体进行光学研究。新的条纹相机增加了在亚皮秒时间（小于百万分之一秒的百万分之一）研究这些光学特性变化的能力，为材料的全面表征创造了一个独特的设施，导致基于半导体的电子和光学设备，以及用于生物，医疗和环境应用的传感器。教育活动将结合为高中学生举办的暑期“工程学入门课程”、为圣母大学一年级学生开设的新工程学学习中心、每年在圣母大学举行的西门子-西屋科学竞赛以及目前正在为将于2006年秋季开放的新“科学教学楼”（约旦厅）开展的教育推广活动。将扩大努力，增加妇女和代表性不足的少数民族的参与，并使与两个小企业的互动成为可能。

Technical AbstractThe University of Notre Dame will acquire a Hamamatsu Streak Camera for incorporation into the Nano-Optics Laboratory. The instrument will make possible sub-picosecond time-resolved optical spectroscopy of a variety of semiconductors, and will be used in conjunction with a near-field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) system. This will enable single nanostructures to be investigated with spectral resolution of meV, spatial resolution of ~40-50 nm, and temporal resolution of fsec, at low temperature (1.4K) and high magnetic fields (12 T). This state-of-the-art facility will be used for research into a broad range of problems related to nanotechnology, among them: optical properties of the III-V nitride semiconductors, both wide and narrow bandgap (GaN, InN, and their ternary alloys), quantum wires and dots in both III-Vs and II-VIs, magnetic semiconductor compounds, and semiconductor oxides. Many of these systems will be investigated through collaboration with more than 40 research personnel, with strong coupling to DOE and international laboratories. This instrumentation acquisition will have strong educational impact for students at both introductory and advanced levels. Participation of women and under-represented minorities will be enhanced, and interaction with two small businesses made possible. Lay AbstractWith the extraordinary growth of information and communication technology made possible by the "Silicon Revolution"of the past 30 years, many new materials are now under intense investigation. Understanding their basic optical properties is essential for progress. The Nano-Optics Lab at Notre Dame already features near-field optical microscopy, capable of optical studies of objects that are hundreds of times smaller than those observable with conventional light microscopes. The new streak camera adds the ability to study changes in these optical properties at sub-picosecond times (less than a millionth of a millionth of a second), creating a unique facility for the comprehensive characterization of materials leading to semiconductor-based electronic and optical devices, and sensors for biological, medical, and environmental applications. Educational activities will be coupled to a summer "Introduction to Engineering Program" for high school students, a new Engineering Learning Center for first-year Notre Dame students, the Siemens-Westinghouse Science Competition that takes place annually at Notre Dame, and educational outreach currently being developed for the new "Science Teaching Building" (Jordan Hall) which will open for the Fall of 2006. Efforts to increase participation of women and under-represented minorities will be expanded, and interaction with two small businesses made possible.