Columbia University MRSEC on Precision-Assembled Quantum Materials

非技术描述：哥伦比亚材料科学与工程中心(MRSEC)-精密组装量子材料P(AQM)中心与少数族裔服务机构的教师合作，探索实现未来量子技术的新材料系统，并培养多样化的新一代科学家和工程师，他们跨越学科，推进知识和技术的前沿。PAQM研究计划由两个跨学科研究小组(IRGS)组成，这两个小组都研究由低维构建块组装的材料：第一组通过堆叠原子薄片来创建分层结构，第二组使用化学合成的分子簇来创建块状材料。在这两个系统中，可以通过选择不同的构建块并控制它们的组装方式来控制紧急属性。PAQM试图利用这种设计自由来创造下一代量子材料，这种材料提供了操纵电荷、自旋和能量流动的新方法，并提供了超导等量子态。这些新的特性将反过来使未来的量子技术在计算、传感和通信方面成为可能，比如数字存储器、可切换的吸收体和新的光电探测器。PAQM在一个汇集了来自多个科学和工程学科的研究人员的环境中培训高中、社区大学、本科生和研究生级别的研究人员。该中心吸引了小学和中学的学生和教师，以培养他们对科学的兴趣。哥伦比亚MRSEC的教育和研究活动旨在增加所有级别的多样性，特别是在与材料科学和工程相关的领域。技术描述：哥伦比亚MRSEC-PAQM由两个IRG组成，专注于通过精确组装低维构建块创建的材料。IRG1将二维材料结合成范德华异质结构(VdWH)，承载着突然出现的量子现象。三类量子现象--可调谐超流体、非平衡态和拓扑量子态--推动了这项工作。IRG1专注于基础材料问题，通过合成高纯度晶体，创建超清洁异质结构，并执行详细的表征，以充分了解vdWH的结构/性质关系。这些进展将推动该领域的发展，并使人们能够利用支撑未来量子信息、传感和计算技术的量子现象。IRG2从化学合成的分子簇(超原子)中设计和合成原子上精确的功能材料。IRG2团队使用一种结合了合成、理论和表征的闭环方法，开发出控制超原子之间耦合的方法。通过调整超原子的电子、磁、振动和对称特性，该团队可以设计可重新配置的相变材料；控制能量、电荷和自旋的方向传输；并实现紧急量子现象，这些特性支撑着未来的技术，包括电子、数字存储器、可切换吸收器件和新型光电探测器。对新研究工具和共享设施的投资支持这项工作。这些研究目标是由与布鲁克海文国家实验室、熨斗研究所和马克斯·普朗克学会等主要合作伙伴的合作推动的。产业伙伴关系和创业种子计划支持向应用程序转化的努力。PAQM教育和外联活动支持各级STEM和材料教育，并培训量子材料尖端领域的下一代跨学科材料研究人员。反映了哥伦比亚大学MRSEC教员的多样性及其城市位置，研究和教育与多元化战略计划相结合，旨在增加未被充分代表的群体在材料科学和相关领域的参与。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Nontechnical Description: The Columbia Materials Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) - Center for Precision-Assembled Quantum Materials P(AQM) partners with faculty at Minority Serving Institutions and explores new materials systems that will enable future quantum technologies, and educates a diverse new generation of scientists and engineers who reach across disciplines to advance the frontiers of knowledge and technology. The PAQM research program comprises two interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs), both of which study materials assembled from lower-dimensional building blocks: the first group creates layered structures by stacking atomically thin sheets, and the second group uses chemically synthesized molecular clusters to create bulk materials. In both systems, the emergent properties can be controlled both by choosing different building blocks and controlling how they are assembled. PAQM seeks to harness this design freedom to create a next generation of quantum materials which provide new ways to manipulate the flow of charge, spin, and energy, and host quantum states such as superconductivity. These new properties will in turn enable future quantum technologies in computing, sensing, and communications like digital memory, switchable absorbers, and new photodetectors. PAQM trains researchers at the high school, community college, undergraduate, and graduate levels in an environment that brings together researchers from multiple science and engineering disciplines. The center engages students and teachers at the elementary and middle school levels to build interest in science. The educational and research activities of the Columbia MRSEC are designed to increase diversity at all levels, particularly in fields related to Materials Science and Engineering. Technical Description: The Columbia MRSEC - PAQM consists of two IRGs focused on materials created by precise assembly of low-dimensional building blocks. IRG1 combines two-dimensional materials into van der Waals heterostructures (vdWH) hosting emergent quantum phenomena. Three classes of quantum phenomena – tunable superfluids, non-equilibrium states, and topological quantum states – motivate this work. IRG1 focuses on foundational materials issues by synthesizing high-purity crystals, creating ultraclean heterostructures, and performing detailed characterization to fully understand structure/property relationships in vdWH. These advances will propel the field and enable harnessing of quantum phenomena underpinning future quantum information, sensing and computing technologies. IRG2 designs and synthesizes atomically precise, functional materials from chemically synthesized molecular clusters (superatoms). Using a closed-loop approach that combines synthesis, theory, and characterization, the IRG2 team develops methods to control the coupling between superatoms. Tuning the superatoms’ electronic, magnetic, vibrational, and symmetry characteristics allows the team to design reconfigurable phase change materials; control directional transport of energy, charge and spin; and achieve emergent quantum phenomena, properties that underpin future technologies including electronics, digital memory, switchable absorbers, and new photodetectors. Investments in new research tools and shared facilities supports this work. These research goals are propelled by collaborations, with major partners including Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Flatiron Institute, and the Max Planck Society. Industrial partnerships and an entrepreneurial seed program support translational efforts toward applications. PAQM education and outreach activities support STEM and materials education at all levels and train the next generation of interdisciplinary materials researchers in the cutting-edge area of quantum materials. Reflecting the diversity of the Columbia MRSEC faculty and its urban location, research and education are integrated with a diversity strategic plan aimed at increasing participation of underrepresented groups in materials science and related fields.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.