Electron Heating in Superconducting Heterostructures for Advanced Sensing and Communications

目的：最近在氧化物异质结高温单层超导体分子束外延生长方面取得了令人印象深刻的进展，为新型传感器提供了令人兴奋的可能性？超导热电子纳米测辐射热计？这可能会导致现代太赫兹传感和红外光纤通信技术的潜在突破。本项目对这些新颖的La2CuO4/La2-xSrxCuO4异质结中的非平衡效应进行复杂的研究，为基于独特的具有超小电子热容的超导纳米材料的传感和通信技术奠定基础。智力价值：该研究计划包括对超导界面输运性质的全面、基础调查，重点关注与低维超导体和异质结构中的非平衡电子和声子效应有关的关键问题。通过提供所需的基础和技术基础，该计划包括设计和开发先进的光电子器件，如超快探测器、太赫兹混频器、具有出色灵敏度的单红外光子计数器。更广泛的影响：建议的设备在太赫兹环境和工业监测、天体物理学、国土安全和医学中有许多重要的应用。如果成功，拟议的计划将对光通信和网络、量子成像和计量学、量子光学计算、生物光子学和单分子光谱学产生强烈影响。此外，本研究还将为少数民族院校学生在新材料的生长和表征、新型纳米器件的研究和开发等重要领域的培训和教育提供强有力的平台。

Objectives: The recent impressive progress in the MBE growth of high-temperature single layer superconductors in oxide heterostructures opens exciting possibilities for novel sensors ? superconducting hot electron nano-bolometers ? that may lead to potential breakthroughs in modern THz sensing and IR fiber communications technologies. This project pursues complex research of nonequilibrium effects in these novel La2CuO4 /La2-xSrxCuO4 heterostructures to establish the foundation for sensing and communication technologies based on unique superconducting nanomaterials with ultra-small electron heat capacity. Intellectual Merit: The research plan includes comprehensive, fundamental investigations of the transport properties of the superconducting interface, focusing on critical issues related to the nonequilibrium electron and phonon effects in low-dimensional superconductors and heterostructures. By providing the needed fundamental and technological bases, this program includes design and development of advanced optoelectronic devices, such as ultra-fast detectors, THz mixers, single IR photon counters with outstanding sensitivity. Broader Impact: The proposed devices have a number of important applications in THZ environmental and industrial monitoring, astrophysics, homeland security, and medicine. If successful, the proposed program will have a strong impact on optical communication and networking, quantum imaging and metrology, quantum optical computing, bio-photonics, and single-molecule spectroscopy. In addition, this research will provide a strong platform for the training and education of students of minority institutions in important areas of growth and characterization of new materials, research and development of novel nanoscaled devices.