MRI: Acquisition of SQUID Magnetometer for the Exploration of the Next Generation of Materials and the Study of Complex Spin Phenomena

该奖项通过美国国家科学基金会的主要研究仪器（MRI）项目，支持购买最先进的磁力计，用于教育、研究培训和探索大量新材料。该磁力计利用超导量子干涉装置（SQUID）进行磁通量检测，提供极高的分辨率，是研究复杂材料中广泛磁现象的关键表征工具。波士顿学院的研究人员和众多地区外部用户都参与了大量的材料合成和发现工作，连同他们的教育活动，将从获得磁力计中受益匪浅。特别是，该仪器将支持从复杂氧化物到催化剂开发，到能量收集材料到高温超导体等领域的下一代材料的探索，所有这些都有望推动现代材料发现的前沿。此外，该仪器将支持本科生参与前沿研究，并作为激发代表性不足的高中实习生对科学兴趣的工具。通过该奖项获得的SQUID磁力计将立即对其作为用户设施的运行产生影响，以支持波士顿学院和区域研究项目的研究和材料探索。促进这种新材料的发现和发展具有近期和长期的社会意义，因为材料的进步在历史上是技术进步的重要组成部分。此外，在不损失液氦的情况下操作该仪器的能力使其成为一种高通量、低成本的设备，将大大扩大其长期的区域科学产出。该仪器的易用性和低成本操作将使下一代研究科学家在本科，研究生和博士后水平的培训成为可能，并为发现下一代功能材料提供关键资源。

DMR-1337567StephenThis award through the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program at NSF supports the acquisition of a state-of-the-art magnetometer for education, research training, and the exploration of a host of novel materials. The magnetometer utilizes a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) for magnetic flux detection providing extremely high resolution and a critical characterization tool in the study a broad array of magnetic phenomena in complex materials. Researchers ate Boston College and numerous, regional, external users all engage in substantial materials synthesis and discovery efforts that will, along with their educational activities, tremendously benefit from the acquisition of the magnetometer. In particular, the instrument will support the exploration of the next generation of materials in fields ranging from complex oxides, to catalyst development, to energy harvesting materials, to high temperature superconductors---all of which hold the promise of pushing the frontiers of modern materials discovery. Additionally, the instrument will support undergraduate involvement in leading edge research as well as serve as a tool for stimulating interest in science for underrepresented high school interns.The SQUID magnetometer acquired through this award will have an immediate impact in its operation as a user facility to support both research and materials exploration at Boston College and in regional research programs. Fostering this discovery and development of novel materials has both near term and long-term societal significance where advances in materials historically underlie a significant fraction of technological advances. Additionally, the ability to operate this instrument without the loss of liquid helium renders it a high-throughput, low-cost, facility that stands to dramatically amplify its long-term regional scientific output. The ease of access and low-cost operation of the instrument will enable the training of the next generation of research scientists at undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels and provide a critical resource for the discovery of the next generation of functional materials.