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团队计划购买一套定制的AJA Orion-8型超高压多源溅射系统，该系统能够在超高基区真空和可控气氛下制备各种厚度可控的多层或单层薄膜。获得这一溅射系统将使能够或大大增强的研究项目包括：(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)界面的纳米机械表征；(6)高强度和韧性的陶瓷材料；以及(7)氮化硅纳米纤维。这些项目的结果将阐明纳米科学和纳米技术中的各种基本物理和工程课题，并导致在数据存储和传感、能源生成和存储以及生物医学工程中的应用。该仪器的使用也将被纳入教学活动，使更多的学生接触到先进的纳米制造技术的能力。将这种溅射系统加入这三个机构将加强三个机构研究和教育的仪器共享基础设施；促进跨学科互动，并导致三个机构在研究方面实现以前未被发现的协同效应；使三个机构的不同本科生和研究生群体有机会利用尖端技术开展材料科学实践研究；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女性进入这些研究领域。非技术摘要：纳米结构材料的一个或多个维度在纳米尺度上，通常表现出新的和增强的性能比他们的大块同行。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，在用溅射方法制备的纳米尺度多层膜中发现了巨磁电阻效应(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团队提议购买定制的AJA Orion-8超高压多源溅射系统。获得这一溅射系统将使研究项目得以实现或大大增强，包括纳米磁学、超冷原子系统、光电子学和纳米机械工程的研究。这些项目的结果将阐明纳米科学和纳米技术中的各种基本物理和工程课题，并导致在数据存储和传感、能源生成和存储以及生物医学工程中的应用。将这一溅射系统加入三所院校现有的多样化和动态环境中，将促进加强跨学科互动，为三所院校的不同本科生和研究生群体提供利用尖端技术进行材料科学实践研究的无与伦比的机会，并为属于代表性不足的少数群体的教职员工提供开展尖端研究的机会，这反过来将吸引更多女性进入这些研究领域。

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.