Single-Molecule Magnets: Internal Degrees of Freedom and Quantum Dynamics

非技术摘要：本项目旨在开发必要的实验和教育工具，以便在广泛的实验条件下研究、理解和传播纳米级分子磁体的量子动力学。对纳米材料量子特性的控制导致了新兴技术的出现，如量子信息和计算过程。纳米级分子系统在超高密度集成和量子信息处理方面具有巨大的潜力，这些技术都是基于本项目研究的基本性质。拟议的研究与一系列教育活动紧密结合。一些研究生和本科生将在无机化学与基础和应用物理之间的界面进行培训，并接触到首席研究员多年来建立的大型跨学科和国际合作网络。此外，该研究还支持了由首席研究员领导的一项倡议，即在UCF创建纳米科学与技术的新副修和学士学位，这些学位围绕三个新的纳米课程建立，项目的研究将在这些课程中展示。这些课程作为服务学习课程提供，旨在促进奥兰多大都会地区参与中学的K-12学生早期参与科学。技术摘要：本项目旨在巩固一个综合的实验和教育框架，以研究、理解和传播知识，详细介绍单分子磁体在广泛的实验条件下的磁性。具体的科学目标是：a)了解内部自由度在分子纳米磁体磁化量子隧穿中的作用；b)研究弱耦合和强耦合状态下smm中光-物质相互作用的性质，以期在量子信息、分子自旋电子学和相关新兴技术中应用，实现对分子自旋的量子相干控制。该项目的目标是将脉冲EPR光谱扩展到低温（~100mK），使用高灵敏度微带谐振器（包括高质量因数超导共面波导谐振器）实现，预计能够以比以前研究中获得的灵敏度小两个数量级的灵敏度测量退相干率。事实上，这个项目的实验装置允许研究三种主要的退相干源，例如，偶极子，核和振动。减少和控制分子纳米磁体中的退相干源可以实现量子算法和量子纠错协议所需的大量门操作。此外，其固有的磁性分子各向异性使分子纳米磁体成为新兴的分子自旋电子学领域感兴趣的自然系统。该研究项目与一系列教育活动紧密结合，旨在培养研究生和本科生在无机化学与基础和应用物理之间的界面，并暴露在PI多年来建立的大型跨学科和国际合作网络中。该建议为继续让代表性不足的群体参与各级研究制定了战略计划，这一点在PI开展的促进实验室多样性的活动的良好记录中得到了说明。此外，这项研究还支持了由首席研究员领导的一项倡议，即在UCF创建纳米科学与技术的新副修学位和学士学位，这些学位是围绕三个新的纳米课程建立的。将展示美国的研究成果。这些课程作为服务学习课程提供，旨在促进奥兰多大都会地区参与中学的K-12学生早期参与科学。

Non-technical abstract:This project seeks to develop the necessary experimental and educational tools for the study, understanding and dissemination of the quantum dynamics of nanometer sized molecular magnets under a broad range of experimental conditions. The control of quantum properties of nanoscale materials has led to the appearance of new emerging technologies, such as quantum information and computation processes. Nanoscale molecular systems have great potential for ultra-high density integration and quantum information processing, which are technologies that base on the fundamental properties studied in this project. The proposed research is strongly integrated with a series of educational activities. Several graduate and undergraduate students will be trained at the interface between inorganic chemistry and fundamental and applied physics, and exposed to a large, interdisciplinary and international net of collaborations that the principal investigator has established over many years. In addition, the research supports an initiative led by the principal investigator to create new Minor and B.A. degrees in Nanoscale Science and Technology at UCF, which are built around three new nano-courses where the project's research will be showcased. The courses are offered as Service-Learning courses and designed to promote the early involvement in science of K-12 students in participating middle schools in the Orlando metropolitan area.Technical abstract:This project seeks to consolidate an integrated experimental and educational framework for the study, understanding, and dissemination of knowledge that details the magnetic properties of single-molecule magnets under a broad range of experimental conditions. The specific scientific goals are: a) to understand the role played by internal degrees of freedom in the quantum tunneling of magnetization in molecular nanomagnets, and, b) to study the nature of the light-matter interaction in SMMs in the weak and strong coupling regimes, with the goal of achieving quantum coherent control over the molecular spin in view of application in quantum information, molecular spintronics and related emerging technologies. The project goals base on an expansion of pulse EPR spectroscopy extending down to low temperatures (~100mK), achieved with the use of high-sensitivity microstrip resonators (including high quality factor superconducting coplanar waveguide resonators), is expected to enable measurements of decoherence rates with a sensitivity two orders of magnitude smaller than those attained in previous studies. Indeed, the experimental setup resulting from this project allows the investigation of the three primary sources of decoherence, e.g., dipolar, nuclear and vibronic. Diminishing and controlling sources of decoherence in molecular nanomagnets may enable the large number of gate operations demanded by quantum algorithms and quantum error correction protocols. In addition, their intrinsic magnetic molecular anisotropy makes molecular nanomagnets natural systems of interest for the emerging field of molecular spintronics. The research project is strongly integrated with a series of educational activities designed to train graduate and undergraduate students at the interface between inorganic chemistry and fundamental and applied physics, and exposed to a large, interdisciplinary and international net of collaborations that the PI has established over many years. The proposal strategizes plans to continue an involvement of underrepresented groups in research at all levels, as illustrated in a strong record of activities undertaken by the PI that promote diversity in the laboratory. In addition, the research supports an initiative led by the principal investigator to create new Minor and B.A. degrees in Nanoscale Science and Technology at UCF, which are built around three new nano-courses where the project?s research will be showcased. The courses are offered as Service-Learning courses and designed to promote the early involvement in science of K-12 students in participating middle schools in the Orlando metropolitan area.