PIRE: U.S.-Japan Cooperative Research and Education on Terahertz Dynamics in Nanostructures

这一帝国更新奖支持了一项独特的跨学科美日研究和教育伙伴关系的扩大，该伙伴关系的重点是纳米结构中的太赫兹(THz)动力学。电磁光谱的0.1到10太赫兹的频率范围是电传输和光学跃迁的结合，从而为研究各种新的物理现象提供了令人兴奋的机会。通过将太赫兹技术和纳米技术相结合，我们可以在改进和发展太赫兹器件的同时，提高我们对太赫兹物理的理解。纳米技术是研究纳米结构(长度在1到100纳米之间)以及如何控制、制造或操纵它们的科学。新的发现为新型电子、光子、机械和磁性器件提供了新的可能性，这些器件在未来的技术应用中具有巨大的潜力，包括医学、计算和通信。这个PERY项目将(A)促进我们对纳米结构中THz动力学的定量理解，(B)为THz研究和应用制造新的纳米结构，(C)推进THz光谱和成像方面的前沿实验技术，以及(D)为开发新型THz器件提供新的知识。这些项目探索碳纳米材料中的太赫兹动力学，即纳米管和石墨烯。美国和日本在太赫兹研究和纳米技术方面都是全球领先者，促进合作对于进一步推进太赫兹科学并在实验室根据新想法开发商业产品至关重要。然而，国际合作存在障碍--主要是语言和文化障碍--这个帝国项目的目标是继续打破这些障碍。该项目还将利用两国的大量投资，通过让下一代研究人员更好地了解两国的文化和最先进的技术，实现长期的科学和社会影响。该项目的强大教育组合侧重于培养年轻的美国本科生，特别是那些来自代表性不足的群体的学生对纳米技术的兴趣，并鼓励这些学生在物理科学方面进行研究生学习和学术研究。这笔新的资金将扩大和加强面向本科生的获奖国际研究体验计划，该计划被称为纳米日本计划。该项目被公认为理工科学生国际教育项目的典范，将在日本导师的指导下，为美国本科生在日本大学实验室提供结构化的研究机会。该方案包括为期三周的情况介绍方案，包括语言和文化培训，以及广泛使用信息技术作为学习和社区建设的工具。美国研究生、早期职业科学家、研究人员和校友将从直接参与PERE研究以及国内机构和当地社区相关的后续教育项目中受益。其他项目，如本科生和研究生研究助学金以及纳米亚洲研究生国际研究体验(IRE)，是美国学生开展国际合作的额外场所。最初的PIRE在招聘女性和非裔美国学生方面取得了特别成功；这些招聘工作将继续进行，并将扩大到包括第一代大学在校生。这一广泛的PIRE教育活动组合应该培养出一批拥有丰富技能的学生队伍，这些学生拥有丰富的技能集，涵盖纳米科学专业、国际文化意识以及文化、语言、科学和技术的交叉。该奖项的制度影响包括加强莱斯大学在太赫兹科学、材料科学和纳米科学国际研究和教育方面的领导地位。它将赖斯置于令人兴奋的国内外研究人员和教育工作者合作网络的中心，同时利用塔尔萨大学在国际教育方面的非凡实力，特别是在为理工科学生开发国际教育项目方面的专业知识。纳米技术导论和纳米科学在线研讨会将在这个世界范围内开展，并将进行网络直播和在线存档，使所有美国和日本的参与者能够现场或异步参与，从而增强所有机构的国际课程。此外，该项目将进一步加强通过原PERE奖建立的校区内和校区之间的联系，并使之国际化，包括设有国际办事处、信息技术单位以及课程和评估专家的校区。该项目也是一种创新模式，使参与的大学能够促进工程、科学和人文领域的学者之间的多学科国际合作。此外，通过将本科生带入国际研究，该项目建立在最初的PERE成功的基础上，为PIRE机构和国家加强潜在的全球参与的研究生队伍。美国的项目合作伙伴包括莱斯大学(德克萨斯)、佛罗里达大学、塔尔萨大学(OK)、纽约州立大学(SUNY)布法罗分校、南伊利诺伊大学卡本代尔分校和德克萨斯农工大学。日本的合作伙伴包括大阪大学、千叶大学、新州大学、东北大学、东京大学、国家信息与通信技术研究所(NICT)、国家材料科学研究所(NIMS)、北海道大学、理研院和爱兹大学。该奖项由国际科学与工程办公室、电气、通信和网络系统司和材料研究部共同资助。

This PIRE renewal award supports the expansion of a unique interdisciplinary U.S.-Japan research and education partnership focused on terahertz (THz) dynamics in nanostructures. The 0.1 to 10 THz frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum is where electrical transport and optical transitions merge, thus offering exciting opportunities to study a variety of novel physical phenomena. By combining THz technology and nanotechnology, we can advance our understanding of THz physics while improving and developing THz devices. Nanotechnology is the study of nanostructures (between 1 to 100 nanometers long) and how they can be controlled, fabricated, or manipulated. New discoveries provide insight into the possibilities for novel electronic, photonic, mechanical, and magnetic devices that have huge potential for future technological applications including medicine, computation, and communications.This PIRE project will (a) advance our quantitative understanding of THz dynamics in nanostructures, (b) fabricate novel nanostructures for THz study and applications, (c) advance cutting-edge experimental techniques in THz spectroscopy and imaging, and (d) provide new knowledge useful for developing novel THz devices. The projects explore THz dynamics in carbon nanomaterials, namely, nanotubes and graphene.The U.S. and Japan are global leaders in both THz research and nanotechnology, and stimulating cooperation is critical to further advance THz science and develop commercial products from new ideas in the lab. However, obstacles exist for international collaboration - primarily linguistic and cultural barriers - and this PIRE project aims to continue breaking down these barriers. The project will also leverage large investments by both countries to achieve long-term scientific and societal impact by providing future generations of researchers with a better understanding of both the culture and the state-of-the-art technology in each country.The strong educational portfolio of this project focuses on cultivating interest in nanotechnology among young U.S. undergraduate students, especially those from underrepresented groups, and encouraging such students to pursue graduate study and academic research in the physical sciences. This renewed funding will expand and strengthen the award-winning international research experience program for undergraduates called the NanoJapan Program. Recognized as a model for international education programs for science and engineering students, this program will provide U.S. undergraduates with structured research opportunities in Japanese university laboratories with Japanese mentors. This program includes a three-week orientation program with language and culture training as well as extensive use of information technologies as learning and community-building tools. U.S. graduate students, early career scientists, researchers and alumni will benefit from direct involvement in the PIRE research as well as from related follow-on educational projects at home institutions and in local communities. Other programs such as undergraduate and graduate research assistantships and the NanoAsia Graduate International Research Experience (IRE) are additional venues for international collaboration for U.S. students. The original PIRE had particular success with recruitment of females and African-American students; these recruitment efforts will continue and will be expanded to include first-generation college-attending students. This broad portfolio of PIRE educational activities should produce a diverse cadre of students with rich skill sets that span nanoscience specialties, international cultural awareness, and the intersection of culture, language, science, and technology.Institutional impacts of this award include strengthening Rice University's leadership position in international research and education in THz science, materials science, and nanoscience. It places Rice at the hub of an exciting domestic and international collaborative network of researchers and educators, while leveraging the University of Tulsa's exceptional strength in international education, especially its expertise in developing international education programs for science and engineering students. An Introduction to Nanotechnology & Nanoscience Online Seminar will be developed within this PIRE and will be webcast live and archived online, enabling live or asynchronous participation of all U.S. and Japanese participants, thus enhancing the international curriculum at all institutions. In addition, the project will further strengthen and internationalize connections within and among campuses established through the original PIRE award, including those with international offices, IT units, and curriculum and assessment specialists. The project is also an innovative model that enables the participating universities to foster multi-disciplinary international collaboration among scholars in engineering, the sciences, and the humanities. Furthermore, by bringing undergraduates into international research, the project builds on the success of the original PIRE in strengthening the pool of potential globally-engaged graduate students for the PIRE institutions and the nation.U.S. project partners include Rice University (TX), University of Florida, University of Tulsa (OK), State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and Texas A&M University. Japanese partners include Osaka University, Chiba University, Shinshu University, Tohoku University, University of Tokyo, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS), Hokkaido University, RIKEN, and University of Aizu.This award is cofunded by the Office of International Science and Engineering, the Division of Electrical, Communications, and Cyber Systems, and the Division of Materials Research.