RUI: Spectroscopy of Many-Body Processes in Nanostructures

该奖项支持等离子体纳米材料以及半导体纳米结构中的光学和输运的理论和计算研究。近十年来，等离子体动力学已成为一个横跨物理、化学、生物、工程和医学的跨学科研究领域。本项目的研究目标包括：(1)微观计算等离子体与分子、量子点或电子空穴对之间的能量交换过程，这些过程是表面增强拉曼散射、金属发光、分子或量子点的荧光或发光以及金属纳米结构附近供体和受体之间的共振能量转移的基础。(2)系统组成部分之间等离子体耦合引起的协同现象的研究，如荧光团系综的自发和受激发射或金属纳米结构附近供体系综向受体的共振能量转移。(3)研究了掺杂半导体引线之间的量子点和量子线的周期性系统中电子的异常传输，以及双量子点系统中自旋轨道耦合在相干传输中的作用。该项目将为来自弱势群体的本科生提供研究和教育机会。作为一所历史上以黑人为主的本科院校，杰克逊州立大学主要服务于当地社区的教育需求。在过去的几年里，杰克逊州立大学物理系开发了一个全面的纳米尺度科学本科生研究和教育计划，目的是(a)让学生接触先进的科学和技术主题，(b)为愿意在州外大学攻读研究生教育的物理专业学生提供额外的资源和机会。这个项目将有助于加强该计划的重要研究部分。该奖项支持两类材料的光学和输运性质的理论和计算研究，这两类材料的大小为人类头发大小的百万分之一。这个项目的第一部分涉及分子或非常小的被称为量子点的受限系统的光谱研究，当它们被放置在金属材料附近时。在两个系统如此接近的情况下，量子力学效应变得很重要。PI和他的团队将通过数值模拟和分析方法来研究这种混合系统的光的发射、吸收和散射。该项目的第二部分涉及研究通过半导体周期性系统或夹在半导体引线之间的受限导线的相干电子传输，以及在这种结构安排中电子的空间自由度和自旋自由度之间相互作用的作用。这两种研究体系在传感、医学和绿色能源等领域都有潜在的技术应用。该项目将为来自弱势群体的本科生提供研究和教育机会。作为一所历史上以黑人为主的本科院校，杰克逊州立大学主要服务于当地社区的教育需求。在过去的几年里，杰克逊州立大学物理系开发了一个全面的纳米尺度科学本科生研究和教育计划，目的是(a)让学生接触先进的科学和技术主题，(b)为愿意在州外大学攻读研究生教育的物理专业学生提供额外的资源和机会。这个项目将有助于加强该计划的重要研究部分。

TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis award supports theoretical and computational studies of plasmonic nanomaterials and of optics and transport in semiconductor nanostructures. During past decade, plasmonics has become a rapidly developing interdisciplinary research area that cuts across physics, chemistry, biology, engineering and medical science. The research objectives of this project include:(1) Microscopic calculations of energy exchange processes between plasmons and molecules, quantum dots or electron-hole pairs which underpin the physics of surface-enhanced Raman scattering, metal luminescence, fluorescence or luminescence of molecules or quantum dots, and resonance energy transfer between donors and acceptors near a metal nanostructure.(2) Studies of cooperative phenomena due to plasmonic coupling between system constituent parts, such as spontaneous and stimulated emission of ensemble of fluorophores or resonance energy transfer from an ensemble of donors to an acceptor near a metal nanostructure.(3) Investigations of extraordinary electron transmission through a periodic system of quantum dots and quantum wires sandwiched between doped semiconductor leads, and of the role of spin-orbit coupling in coherent transport through a double-quantum-dot system.This project will provide research and educational opportunities to undergraduate students from underrepresented groups. Being a historically black predominantly undergraduate institution, Jackson State University primarily serves the educational needs of the local community. During past several years, the Physics Department at Jackson State University has developed a comprehensive Nanoscale Science undergraduate student research and education program with the aim of (a) exposing students to advanced topics of science and technology, and (b) providing additional resources and opportunities to physics majors who are willing to pursue graduate education in out-of-state universities. This project will help in strengthening the vital research component of this program.NONTECHNICAL SUMMARYThis award supports theoretical and computational studies of optical and transport properties of two classes of materials that have sizes of the order of one millionth the size of the human hair. The first part of this project involves spectroscopic studies of molecules or very small confined systems called quantum dots when they are placed near metallic materials. In such close proximity of the two systems, quantum mechanical effects become important. The PI and his group will examine the emission, absorption, and scattering of light from such hybrid systems through numerical simulations and analytical methods. The second part of the project involves studies of coherent electron transport through a periodic system of semiconductors or confined wires sandwiched between semiconductor leads and the role of the interaction between the spatial and spin degrees of freedom of the electron in such structural arrangements. Both systems of study have potential technological applications in such areas as sensing, medicine, and green energy.This project will provide research and educational opportunities to undergraduate students from underrepresented groups. Being a historically black predominantly undergraduate institution, Jackson State University primarily serves the educational needs of the local community. During past several years, the Physics Department at Jackson State University has developed a comprehensive Nanoscale Science undergraduate student research and education program with the aim of (a) exposing students to advanced topics of science and technology, and (b) providing additional resources and opportunities to physics majors who are willing to pursue graduate education in out-of-state universities. This project will help in strengthening the vital research component of this program.