CAREER: Transfer of Momentum and Energy in the Nanoscale Using Quantum and Thermal Fluctuations

非技术性总结光和物质在纳米尺度上的相互作用可能与我们日常的宏观经验非常不同。当材料结构的尺寸或分隔它们的空间达到纳米范围时，光和物质的量子性质出现并产生新的现象。该奖项支持旨在研究各种新现象的理论研究，这些新现象涉及纳米级物体之间的动量和能量转移，这两个新概念最近出现在纳米光子学领域：原子厚度结构和光的自旋轨道相互作用。在一个共同的理论框架内对这些现象的研究将使PI和他的团队能够为新的范例奠定基础，从而实现纳米级动量和能量的非接触转移。从长远来看，该奖项支持的研究可以帮助开发操纵纳米级物体（包括生物相关结构）的新方法。能量传递的结果可以对纳米电子学中热器件和热管理策略的改进产生影响。该奖项还支持旨在改善科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）领域学生的招聘和保留的教育和外联活动，特别强调来自代表性不足的少数民族的第一代和低收入学生。PI和他的团队将实施一系列针对学生的活动，从中学到研究生阶段，旨在产生和培养对STEM学科的兴趣，保持这种兴趣，并将其塑造为基本技能和经验。该奖项支持理论研究，其总体目标是研究由电磁场的量子和热波动介导的纳米级动量和能量的转移。为此，PI和他的团队将通过研究和克服波动电动力学方法的限制来实现一个强大的理论框架，并使用它来研究波动诱导现象背景下的两个新的纳米光子学概念：低维系统和光的自旋轨道相互作用。调查将围绕四个研究重点组织，以实现以下具体目标：（1）探索波动电动力学方法的局限性，并实施必要的改进以描述涉及低维纳米结构和光的自旋轨道相互作用的波动诱导现象，（2）研究不同旋转纳米结构之间的Casimir扭矩作为在纳米级中传递角动量的机制，特别关注低维系统，并利用光的自旋-轨道相互作用来实现角动量的单向传递，（3）研究作用在低维纳米结构上的Casimir力及其与其他相关相互作用（例如静电力）的相互作用，和（4）研究由辐射热传递介导的纳米结构系综的热化，并探索低维结构和自旋，轨道相互作用的光作为一个路径，以实现在纳米级的能量转移的完全时间控制。从长远来看，该奖项支持的研究可以帮助开发新的方法来操纵纳米级物体，包括生物相关的结构。能量传递的结果可以对纳米电子学中热器件和热管理策略的改进产生影响。该奖项还支持旨在改善科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）领域学生的招聘和保留的教育和外联活动，特别强调来自代表性不足的少数民族的第一代和低收入学生。PI和他的团队将实施一系列针对学生的活动，从中学到研究生阶段，旨在激发和培养对STEM学科的兴趣，保持这种兴趣，并将其塑造为基本技能和经验。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

NONTECHNICAL SUMMARYThe interaction between light and matter at the nanoscale can be very different from our daily macroscopic experience. When the dimensions of material structures, or the space separating them, reach the range of nanometers, the quantum nature of light and matter emerges and gives rise to new phenomena. This award supports theoretical research that is aimed at investigating various new phenomena involving the transfer of momentum and energy between nanoscale objects within the context of two novel concepts that have recently emerged in the field of nanophotonics: structures with atomic thickness and spin-orbit interactions of light. The investigation of these phenomena within a common theoretical framework will allow the PI and his team to establish the foundations for new paradigms enabling noncontact transfer of momentum and energy at the nanoscale. The research supported by this award can, in the long run, help in developing novel approaches for manipulating nanoscale objects, including biologically relevant structures. The results on energy transfer can have an impact on the improvement of thermal devices and heat management strategies in nanoelectronics. This award also supports educational and outreach activities aimed at improving the recruitment and retention of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with a special emphasis on first-generation and low-income students from underrepresented minorities. The PI and his team will implement a range of activities targeting students, from middle school to the graduate level, which aim to generate and foster interest in STEM disciplines, preserve that interest, and mold it into essential skills and experience. TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis award supports theoretical research with an overarching goal of investigating the transfer of momentum and energy at the nanoscale mediated by the quantum and thermal fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. To that end, the PI and his team will implement a robust theoretical framework by investigating and overcoming the limits of the fluctuational electrodynamics approach, and use it to study two novel nanophotonics concepts within the context of fluctuation-induced phenomena: low-dimensional systems and spin-orbit interactions of light. The investigation will be organized around four research thrusts addressing the following specific goals: (1) explore the limits of the fluctuational electrodynamics approach and implement the necessary improvements to describe fluctuation-induced phenomena involving low-dimensional nanostructures and spin-orbit interactions of light, (2) investigate the Casimir torque between different rotating nanostructures as a mechanism to transfer angular momentum in the nanoscale, paying special attention to low-dimensional systems, and exploit the spin-orbit interactions of light to achieve unidirectional transfer of angular momentum, (3) investigate the Casimir forces acting on low-dimensional nanostructures and their interplay with other relevant interactions, such as electrostatic forces, and (4) study the thermalization of ensembles of nanostructures mediated by radiative heat transfer and explore low-dimensional structures and spin-orbit interactions of light as a path to achieve full temporal control over the transfer of energy at the nanoscale.The research supported by this award can, in the long run, help in developing novel approaches for manipulating nanoscale objects, including biologically relevant structures. The results on energy transfer can have an impact on the improvement of thermal devices and heat management strategies in nanoelectronics. This award also supports educational and outreach activities aimed at improving the recruitment and retention of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with a special emphasis on first-generation and low-income students from underrepresented minorities. The PI and his team will implement a range of activities targeting students, from middle school to the graduate level, which aim to generate and foster interest in STEM disciplines, preserve that interest, and mold it into essential skills and experience.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.