CAREER: A Search for the Optimal Material for Spintronic Device Applications: From University to Primary School Classrooms

这一职业奖将理论和计算方法与指导实验工作的最终目标相结合，为自旋电子器件应用寻找最佳材料。控制磁性半导体纳米结构的性质涉及到许多参数，这些参数很难在实验中解决。通常，在实验室解决新想法之前，用计算机模拟测试新想法会更快、更便宜。这项工作将集中在发展磁性半导体异质结构和量子点的责任理论。它将利用动态平均场近似(DMFA)及其团簇推广来研究三个系统的磁性和输运性质：稀磁半导体(如Ga1-xMnxAs)、稀磁半导体的量子点和磁性有机半导体薄膜，特别是金属卟啉。我们的理论将把这些系统中存在的不同竞争相互作用纳入一个统一的自洽方法。这三个系统成为我们测试方法有效性的原型。这项研究将与纳米科学的教育/推广计划相结合。在大学一级，一门新的本科课程，纳米科学导论，将重点放在纳米科学和纳米技术上。为了将纳米世界带给我们的孩子，我计划开发一个以纳米科学为基础的探究性活动计划，并为6-12年级的教师举办一个专业发展研讨会。我将通过莉莲·C·麦克德莫特和华盛顿大学物理教育小组的探索，以物理学的方式开发和测试纳米科学和纳米技术的模块。智力优势：可靠的磁性半导体理论对于自旋电子器件应用的进步至关重要。几个材料家族目前正受到积极的审查，因为它们具有很有前途的特性。尽管这些材料彼此之间有很大的不同，但它们表现出共同的特征，如存在几个相互竞争的相互作用和短程关联，显著的激子和极化子效应以及强烈的限制效应。我们的理论将恰当地解释这些影响，并能够做出具体的预测。这一研究将拓宽我们对磁性半导体的基本认识和在自旋电子器件、量子计算和量子信息系统中的潜在应用。将开发新的方法和算法；它们将与其他强相关系统的建模相关。广泛影响：纳米技术的重大挑战之一是教育。在10到15年内，我们可能会有新技术所需的研究成果，而不需要熟练的工人来利用它们。我们外展工作的主要目标将是提高学生对科学的兴趣和成就，并鼓励高中生考虑从事纳米科学职业。我们区域的儿童几乎没有途径来把握纳米技术革命提供的机会。我们的努力将通过为小学和高中教师举办的讲习班，帮助将纳米科学带给普通公众。此外，对本科生和研究生进行高性能计算培训，对于促进红河谷研究走廊内以技术为基础的经济发展至关重要。这项研究完全符合大学和州立大学的重点研究领域；高性能计算是北达科他州大学战略计划的优先事项，自旋电子学研究是北达科他州EPSCoR.非技术研究计划的四项全州研究倡议之一。非技术摘要：该职业奖项支持纳米科学领域的研究和教育/推广。特别是，将应用先进的计算和理论方法来加深我们对也具有磁性的半导体材料的理解。通过利用构成材料的原子的磁性，这些材料有望给传统电子学带来革命性的变化。利用这种磁性或自旋的材料被称为自旋电子材料。这项研究将研究各种类型的材料，这些材料可能是自旋电子应用的良好候选者。该奖项还将支持开发一门新的大学纳米科学课程，以及一项针对初中和高中教师的外展计划。因此，该奖项支持为下一代提供尖端研究和教育的良好平衡。

This CAREER award combines theoretical and computational methods with the ultimate goal of guiding experimental efforts in the search for optimal materials for spintronic device applications. Controlling the properties of magnetic semiconductor nanostructures involves many parameters that are difficult to address experimentally. Often it is faster and cheaper to test new ideas with computer simulations prior to addressing them in the laboratory. This work will focus on developing areliable theory of magnetic semiconducting heterostructures and quantum dots. It will use the Dynamical Mean Field Approximation (DMFA) and its cluster generalization to study the magnetic and transport properties of three systems: dilute magnetic semiconductors, such as Ga1-x Mnx As, quantum dots of dilute magnetic semiconductors and thin films of magnetic organic semiconductors, in particular metalloporphyrins. Our theory will incorporate the different competing interactions present in these systems within a unified self-consistent approach. These three systems become prototypes where we test the validity of our approach.This research will be combined with an educational/outreach program in nanoscience. At the university level a new undergraduate course, Introduction to Nanoscience, will focus on nanoscience and nanotechnology. In order to bring the nano-world to our children I am planning to develop an inquiry, activity-based program on nanoscience and a workshop for the professional development of teachers in grades 6-12. I will develop and test modules on nanoscience and nanotechnology in the style of Physics by Inquiry by Lillian C. McDermot and the Physics Education Group at the University of Washington.Intellectual Merit: A reliable theory of magnetic semiconductors is crucial for progress towards spintronic device applications. Several families of materials are currently under active scrutiny due to their promising characteristics. Although these materials are very different from one another, they display common characteristics, such as the presence of several competing interactions and short-range correlations, significant excitonic and polaronic effects and strong confinement effects. Our theory will properly account for these effects, and be able to make predictions that are material specific. This research will broaden our fundamental understanding and the potential applications of magnetic semiconductors in spintronic devices, quantum computation and quantum informationsystems. New methods and algorithms will be developed; they will be relevant in the modeling of other strongly correlated systems.Broader Impact: One of the grand challenges for nanotechnology is education. In 10 to 15 years, we may have the necessary research results for new technology without having the skilled workers to take advantage of them. The main objective of our outreach efforts will be to increase student interest and achievement in science, and encourage high school students to consider careers in nanoscience. Children in our region have few avenues available to grasp the world of opportunities provided by the nanotechnology revolution. Our efforts will help bring nanoscience to the general public though workshops for elementary and high school teachers. In addition, the training of undergraduate and graduate students in high-performance computing is crucial to foster the technology-based economic development within the Red River Valley ResearchCorridor. This research fits perfectly within the University and State focused research areas; high performance computing is a priority of the strategic plan of the University of North Dakota, and spintronics research is one of the four Statewide Research Initiatives of North Dakota EPSCoR.Non-Technical Abstract: This CAREER award supports research and education/outreach in the area of nanoscience. In particular, advanced computational and theoretical methods will be applied to increase our understanding of materials made of semiconductors that also have magnetic properties. These materials hold great promise to revolutionize conventional electronics by utilizing the magnetism of the atoms that make up the materials. Materials that use this magnetism, or spin, are called spintronic materials. The research will study various types of materials that could be good candidates for spintronic applications. The award will also support the development of a new college course on nanoscience and an outreach program for teaches in middle and high schools. Thus, the award supports a nice balance of cutting edge research and education for the next generation.