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

职业：寻找自旋电子器件应用的最佳材料：从大学到小学课堂

• 批准号: 1237565
• 负责人: Juana Moreno
• 金额: $ 24.67万
• 依托单位: Louisiana State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-06-01 至 2014-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1237565&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Search; Optimal; Material; Spintronic

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.

该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许多难以通过实验解决的参数。通常，在实验室解决新想法之前，用计算机模拟来测试它们更快，更便宜。本工作将致力于发展磁性半导体异质结构和量子点的可靠理论。它将使用动态平均场近似及其集群推广来研究三个系统的磁性和输运性质：稀磁半导体，如Ga 1-x Mnx As，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。这三个系统成为原型，我们测试我们的方法的有效性。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，将侧重于纳米科学和纳米技术。为了把纳米世界带给我们的孩子，我计划开发一个关于纳米科学的调查，基于活动的计划和一个6-12年级教师专业发展的研讨会。我将开发和测试模块的纳米科学和纳米技术的风格的物理学的调查由莉莲C。学术成就：一个可靠的磁性半导体理论对于自旋电子器件的应用是至关重要的。几个材料家族目前正在积极审查，由于其有前途的特性。虽然这些材料彼此非常不同，但它们显示出共同的特征，例如存在几种竞争相互作用和短程相关性，显着的激子和极化子效应以及强限制效应。 我们的理论将适当地解释这些效应，并能够做出具体材料的预测。这一研究将拓宽我们对磁性半导体的基本认识，并拓宽磁性半导体在自旋电子器件、量子计算和量子信息系统中的潜在应用。新的方法和算法将被开发出来;它们将与其他强相关系统的建模相关。更广泛的影响：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的必要研究成果，而没有熟练的工人来利用它们。我们的推广工作的主要目标将是提高学生的兴趣和科学成就，并鼓励高中生考虑在纳米科学的职业生涯。我们区域的儿童几乎没有什么途径可以抓住纳米技术革命所提供的机会。我们的努力将有助于通过小学和高中教师的研讨会将纳米科学带给公众。此外，对本科生和研究生进行高性能计算方面的培训对于促进红河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国家重点研究领域;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的四个全州研究计划之一。非技术摘要：这项职业奖支持纳米科学领域的研究和教育/推广。 特别是，先进的计算和理论方法将被应用于增加我们对由半导体制成的材料的理解，这些材料也具有磁性。 这些材料通过利用构成材料的原子的磁性，有很大的希望彻底改变传统的电子产品。 利用这种磁性或自旋的材料被称为自旋电子材料。 该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个新的大学纳米科学课程和一个面向初中和高中教师的推广计划。 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。