Experimental Investigations of an Inhomogeneous Electronic Phase of Matter, the Cooper Pair Insulator

物质非均匀电子相（库珀对绝缘体）的实验研究

• 批准号: 1307290
• 负责人: James Valles
• 金额: $ 42万
• 依托单位: Brown University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-06-01 至 2016-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1307290&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Experimental; Investigations; Inhomogeneous; Electronic; Phase

****Technical Abstract**** This project will involve low temperature experiments that elucidate properties of a state of matter exhibiting both superconductor and insulator characteristics simultaneously. It builds on substantial progress showing that this Cooper pair insulator state has a spatially inhomogeneous granular structure that emerges spontaneously. This quality appears commonly among many other interesting systems in which electron correlations effects are strong. Experiments will focus on the Cooper pair insulator phase in thin amorphous films deposited on the surfaces of nano-porous anodized aluminum oxide substrates. Investigations of how this phase responds to magnetic impurity doping, depends on the physical dimensions of the films and evolves with systematic changes in the substrate nano-structure will be conducted. These results can reveal the factors driving the Cooper pair localization and the size of the localized states. These studies will be the platform for training graduate and undergraduate students in nano-technology and forefront issues relevant to the development of new materials for applications. This type of training has been good preparation for careers in industry. The results will impact the general field of condensed matter electronics by providing new insights into how granularity emerges and the properties of correlated electron systems.****Non-Technical Abstract**** This award supports experimental research in condensed matter physics that will be performed with PhD and undergraduate students. The investigations focus specifically on a class of materials that has been transformed dramatically using nano-technology. The material normally superconducts (i.e. carries electricity without losing energy) but becomes an exceptional electrical non-conductor or insulator when patterned with nano-technology. The experiments build on recent work showing that these insulators consist of electrically disconnected grains of superconductor that are few billionths of a meter in size. The experiments will study the factors that drive the spontaneous formation of these grains. These insights will be valuable for understanding the electrical properties of many other recently discovered materials that show similar spontaneous grain formation as well as promise in future applications. This research program will expose the PhD and undergraduate students to scientific issues relevant to the development of new materials for high technology. This type of training has been excellent for launching the careers of scientists in high technology fields.

****技术摘要****该项目将涉及低温实验，阐明同时表现出超导体和绝缘体特征的物质的性质。 它以实质性进展为基础，表明该库珀对绝缘体状态具有空间不均匀的颗粒结构，并自发出现。 这种质量通常在许多其他有趣的系统中，其中电子相关效应很强。 实验将集中在沉积在纳米孔阳极氧化铝氧化铝底物表面上的薄薄膜中的库珀对绝缘体相。 研究该阶段如何响应磁杂质掺杂的研究取决于膜和进化的物理尺寸，并随着底物纳米结构的系统变化而发展。 这些结果可以揭示推动库珀对定位的因素和局部状态的大小。 这些研究将成为培训纳米技术研究生和本科生的平台，以及与开发新材料相关的纳米技术问题。 这种类型的培训为行业的职业做好了很好的准备。 结果将通过提供有关粒度如何出现以及相关电子系统的特性的新见解来影响凝聚态物质电子产品的一般领域。 该研究专门针对使用纳米技术进行了巨大转化的一类材料。 材料通常是超导体（即无需损失能量的电力），但是当用纳米技术构图时，将成为特殊的非导向器或绝缘体。 这些实验基于最近的工作，表明这些绝缘子由超导体的电脱离的晶粒组成，这些晶粒的大小为十亿米。 实验将研究推动这些晶粒自发形成的因素。 这些见解对于理解许多其他最近发现的材料的电气性能很有价值，这些材料显示出类似的自发谷物形成以及未来应用中的希望。该研究计划将使博士学位和本科生面临与开发高科技材料有关的科学问题。 这种类型的培训非常适合在高科技领域启动科学家的职业。