CAREER: Phononic Crystals: Theory and Practical Implementations

这项教师早期职业发展奖的研究目标是开发声子晶体(PNC)的建模方法并对其进行实验表征。PNC是一种微/纳米结构，能够通过周期性地形成材料的几何图形来操纵弹性波在材料中传播的方式。将使用计算机模拟来模拟PNC的行为。然后，这些模拟将指导PNC的设计、制造和实验表征。成果包括PNC的分析和计算工具，演示弹性波如何通过PNC的理论和实验结果，PNC如何改变材料热导率的演示，结果文档，工程学生教育，以及为代表不足的群体的学生提供的工程研究经验。这项研究的结果将导致信号处理和热电设备领域的广泛技术进步。由于PNC固有的几何结构赋予它们处理弹性波(信号)的能力，这些类型的设备将能够取代传统的数字信号处理技术，与PNC相比，传统的数字信号处理技术消耗的功率相对较大。此外，通过操纵材料中的声子，还可以构建更有效的热电设备，实际上可以用于热收集能量。研究生和本科生以及当地一所只服务于美洲原住民的社区大学的学生都将参与这项研究。课程材料也将被开发为该奖项的一部分，该奖项将讨论材料中不同的能量运输方式以及它们之间的相互作用。

The research objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award is to develop methods for modeling Phononic Crystals (PnCs) and to characterize them experimentally. PnCs are a type of micro/nanostructure that are capable of manipulating the manner by which elastic waves travel through a material by a periodic patterning of a material's geometry. Computer simulations will be used to model the behavior of the PnCs. These simulations will then guide the design, fabrication and experimental characterization of the PnCs. Deliverables include analytical and computational tools for PnCs, theoretical and experimental results demonstrating how elastic waves move through PnCs, demonstration of how PnCs alter the thermal conductivity of a material, documentation of results, engineering student education, and engineering research experience for students from underrepresented groups.Results from this research will lead to a wide range of technological advances in the areas of signal processing and thermo-electric devices. Because the inherent geometry of PnCs give them their ability to process elastic waves (signals) these types of devices will be in a position to replace traditional digital signal processing techniques which consume relatively large amount of power in comparison to PnCs. Additionally, by manipulating phonons in materials more efficient thermoelectric devices can also be constructed that can be practically used for thermal harvesting of energy. Graduate and undergraduate students will participate in this research as well as students from a local community college that serves only Native Americans. Course material will also be developed as a part of this award that will address the different modes of energy transport in materials and the interplay between them.