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性的物质状态的特性。 它建立在大量的进展表明，这种库珀对绝缘体状态具有自发出现的空间不均匀的颗粒结构。 这种性质在许多其他有趣的系统中普遍存在，在这些系统中，电子相关效应很强。 实验将集中在纳米多孔阳极氧化铝基板上沉积的非晶薄膜中的库珀对绝缘体相。 这一阶段如何响应磁性杂质掺杂的调查，取决于薄膜的物理尺寸和演变与衬底纳米结构的系统变化将进行。 这些结果可以揭示影响库珀对局域化的因素和局域态的大小。 这些研究将成为培训研究生和本科生纳米技术和前沿问题有关的应用新材料的发展的平台。 这种类型的培训为工业职业生涯做了很好的准备。 结果将影响凝聚态电子学的一般领域，为粒度如何出现和相关电子系统的性质提供新的见解。非技术摘要 * 该奖项支持将与博士和本科生一起进行的凝聚态物理实验研究。 调查特别关注一类使用纳米技术进行了显着改造的材料。 这种材料通常是超导的（即携带电力而不损失能量），但当用纳米技术进行图案化时，就会变成一种特殊的电非导体或绝缘体。 这些实验建立在最近的工作基础上，这些工作表明，这些绝缘体由不带电的超导体颗粒组成，这些颗粒的大小为数十亿分之一米。 实验将研究驱动这些颗粒自发形成的因素。 这些见解将是有价值的了解许多其他最近发现的材料，表现出类似的自发晶粒形成，以及在未来的应用前景的电性能。该研究计划将使博士和本科生接触与高科技新材料开发相关的科学问题。 这类培训对于启动高技术领域科学家的职业生涯非常有益。