MRI: Acquisition of a UHV multi-source sputtering system for multidisciplinary material research

技术摘要：来自布林莫尔学院，哈弗福德学院和维拉诺瓦大学的多学科研究小组建议获得一个定制的AJA Orion-8超高真空多源溅射系统，该系统能够制造各种多层或单层薄膜，并在真空和受控气氛下进行亚纳米厚度控制。获得这套溅射系统将使以下研究项目得以实现或大大加强：（1）磁性纳米结构中的自旋动力学;（2）纳米多孔材料的模板电沉积;（3）超冷高激发原子之间的多体相互作用;（4）光电子学研究;（5）界面的纳米力学表征;（6）高强度和韧性陶瓷材料;和（7）氮化硅纳米纤维。这些项目的结果将揭示纳米科学和纳米技术中的各种基础物理和工程学科，并导致数据存储和传感，能量产生和存储以及生物医学工程的应用。该仪器的使用也将被纳入教学活动中，让更多学生了解先进的纳米制造技术的能力。在三所院校增设这套溅射系统，将可加强三所院校的研究和教育仪器共用基础设施，促进跨学科的互动，并使三所院校的研究工作发挥前所未有的协同作用;让这三所院校的本科生和研究生有机会进行动手-在材料科学研究中使用尖端技术;并为属于代表性不足的少数群体的教师提供开展尖端研究的机会，这反过来又会吸引更多的妇女进入这些研究领域。非技术摘要：纳米结构材料，在纳米尺度上具有一个或多个维度，通常表现出新的和增强的性能超过其散装对应物。溅射是一种在样品表面精确沉积薄层材料的技术，是最重要的纳米材料沉积方法之一。例如，在通过溅射方法制造的纳米级多层膜中发现了巨磁阻效应（2007年诺贝尔物理学奖）。来自布林莫尔学院，哈弗福德学院和维拉诺瓦大学的多学科研究小组建议购买定制的AJA Orion-8 UHV多源溅射系统。通过收购该溅射系统，将能够或大大增强的研究项目包括纳米磁性，超冷原子系统，光电子学和纳米机械工程的研究。这些项目的结果将揭示纳米科学和纳米技术中的各种基础物理和工程学科，并导致数据存储和传感，能量产生和存储以及生物医学工程的应用。将这种溅射系统添加到三个机构现有的多样化和动态环境中，将促进加强跨学科的互动，为三个机构的不同本科生和研究生群体提供无与伦比的机会，利用尖端技术进行材料科学的实践研究，并为属于代表性不足的少数群体的教师提供开展尖端研究的机会，这反过来将吸引更多的妇女进入这些研究领域。

Technical Abstract:A multidisciplinary team of researchers from Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College and Villanova University propose to acquire a customized AJA Orion-8 UHV multi-source sputtering system with the capability of fabricating a variety of multi-layered or single-layered thin films with sub-nanometer thickness control under ultrahigh base vacuum and controlled atmosphere. The research projects that will be enabled or greatly enhanced by the acquisition of this sputtering system include (1) spin dynamics in magnetic nanostructures; (2) templated electrodeposition of nanoporous materials; (3) many-body interactions between ultracold highly-excited atoms; (4) photo electronics research; (5) nanomechanical characterization of interfaces; (6) high strength and toughness ceramic materials; and (7) silicon nitride nanofibers. The results from these projects will shed light on a variety of fundamental physics and engineering subjects in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and lead to applications in data storage and sensing, energy generation and storage, and biomedical engineering. The use of this instrument will also be incorporated into teaching activities to expose more students to the capabilities of advanced nanofabrication techniques. The addition of this sputtering system into the three institutions will enhance the instrument-sharing infrastructure for research and education in the three institutions; facilitate cross-disciplinary interactions and lead to the realization of previously undiscovered synergies in research at the three institutions; give a diverse group of undergraduate students and graduate students in the three institutions an opportunity to carry out hands-on research in materials science using cutting-edge technology; and provide opportunities for faculty belonging to under-represented minority groups to carry out cutting-edge research, which in turn will attract more women into these research areas. Non-Technical Abstract:Nanostructured materials, with one or more dimensions at the nanoscale, often exhibit new and enhanced properties over their bulk counterparts. Sputtering, a technique for precisely depositing thin layers of materials onto sample surfaces, is one of the most important nanomaterials deposition methods. For example, the giant magnetoresistance effect (2007 Nobel Prize in Physics) was discovered in nanoscale multilayered films fabricated by the sputtering method. A multidisciplinary team of researchers from Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College and Villanova University propose to acquire a customized AJA Orion-8 UHV multi-source sputtering system. The research projects that will be enabled or greatly enhanced by the acquisition of this sputtering system include studies in nanomagnetism, ultracold atomic systems, photo electronics, and nanomechanical engineering. The results from these projects will shed light on a variety of fundamental physics and engineering subjects in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and lead to applications in data storage and sensing, energy generation and storage, and biomedical engineering. The addition of this sputtering system into the diverse and dynamic environment existing in the three institutions will facilitate enhanced cross-disciplinary interactions, give a diverse group of undergraduate students and graduate students in the three institutions an unparalleled opportunity to carry out hands-on research in materials science using cutting-edge technology, and provide opportunities for faculty belonging to under-represented minority groups to carry out cutting-edge research, which in turn will attract more women into these research areas.