CAREER: Tuning Transport in Nanostructures

这个职业项目旨在1)理解和操纵纳米结构中的导电，2)通过让他们接触尖端的纳米科学来吸引代表性不足的群体。实验将在碳纳米管、铟砷纳米线和石墨烯三种材料上进行。这些都展示了新颖的物理特性，被认为是纳米级电子学应用的主要候选者。这项研究将使用创新的制造和测量技术，如局部电场和可以控制应变的衬底，来了解哪些因素最能影响纳米材料中的电子传输。拟议的研究也将为新型电子设备奠定基础。教育和研究结合起来，重点是征聘和使妇女和少数民族参与研究活动。具体的教育任务包括在研究项目中指导代表性不足的本科生，以及在针对妇女和少数民族的会议上组织专门的纳米科学会议。该项目将培养有才能的科学家，并有助于提高我国社会的科学知识基础。技术摘要：本职业项目的目标是：1)显著提高对纳米结构中输运性质的理解和操作，2)通过向前沿纳米科学的接触，招募代表性不足的群体。实验将在三种科技相关材料上进行；碳纳米管、InAs纳米线和石墨烯。该研究将利用局部探针和新颖的调谐参数来回答有关纳米结构中输运的基本问题，特别是关于电子-电子相互作用、能带结构、自旋和电荷分布以及无序之间的相互作用。创新的测量和制造工具——如用于检测自旋的量子点接触，用于测量能量分布的隧道探针，以及用于调节电导和带隙的电场和柔性衬底——将被开发出来，以允许对基本特性进行精确研究，并为新型可调谐器件奠定基础。将教育和研究结合起来，重点是招聘和让妇女和少数民族参与研究。具体的教育任务包括指导代表性不足的本科生，以及在针对妇女和少数民族的主要会议和会议上组织纳米科学会议。因此，该计划将有助于增加未来优秀科学家的数量，并有助于改善我国社会的科学知识基础。

NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACTThis CAREER project seeks to 1) understand and manipulate electrical conduction in nanostructures, and 2) attract under-represented groups to physics by exposing them to cutting edge nanoscience. Experiments will be performed on three materials - carbon nanotubes, Indium-Arsenic nanowires, and graphene. These have all demonstrated novel physics and are considered leading candidates for nanoscale electronics applications. The research will use innovative fabrication and measurement techniques, such as local electric fields and substrates that can be controllably strained, to understand what factors most influence electron transport in nanoscale materials. The proposed research will also lay the groundwork for novel electronic devices. Education and research are integrated through a focus on recruiting and involving women and minorities in research activities. Specific educational tasks include mentoring under-represented undergraduates in research projects, and organizing special nanoscience sessions at conferences targeting women and minorities. The project will train talented scientists and help improve the science knowledge base of our society.TECHNICAL ABSTRACTThe goals of this CAREER project are to 1) significantly improve the understanding and manipulation of transport properties in nanostructures, and 2) recruit under-represented groups to physics by exposing them to cutting-edge nanoscience. Experiments will be performed on three scientifically and technologically relevant materials; carbon nanotubes, InAs nanowires, and graphene. The research will utilize local probes and novel tuning parameters to answer basic questions about transport in nanostructures, particularly regarding the interplay between electron-electron interactions, band structure, spin and charge distributions, and disorder. Innovative measurement and fabrication tools - such as quantum point contacts to detect spins, tunneling probes to measure energy distributions, and electric fields and flexible substrates to tune conductance and band gaps - will be developed to allow for precise studies of fundamental properties and also to lay the groundwork for novel tunable devices. Education and research are integrated through a focus on recruiting and involving women and minorities in research. Specific educational tasks include mentoring under-represented undergraduates, and organizing nanoscience sessions at major conferences and meetings targeting women and minorities. The plan will thus help increase the future pool of talented scientists and help improve the scientific knowledge base of our society.