MRI: Acquisition of an Advanced Magnetic Property Measurement System for Research and Education in the Paso del Norte Region

该项目将获得一个现代化的多用途超导量子干涉仪（SQUID）磁力计，该磁力计具有前所未有的灵敏度，具有封闭循环无制冷剂操作。目前，北帕索地区的研究人员还没有具有可比能力的测量设备。拟议购置的这台设备将填补埃尔帕索研究基础设施的一个关键空白，成为满足许多用户测量需求的共享资源。该仪器将对缩短科学发现过程和技术发展至关重要。先进的磁性，电子和光学方法开发使用该仪器将进一步增强研究基础设施，为科学家和工程师在三个不同的主要是西班牙裔服务机构，即UTEP，新墨西哥州州立大学（NMSU）和新墨西哥州高地大学（NMHU）工作提供宝贵的新能力。参与研究项目的研究生和本科生将在世界各地的研究和开发实验室广泛使用的平台上获得先进测量技术的实践经验。主要研究人员将利用与UTEP，NMSU和NMHU的社区外展计划建立的伙伴关系，让高中和西班牙裔学生参与研究和教育活动。该仪器的可用性将有助于吸引优秀的研究人员到Paso del Norte地区的大学。拟议的SQUID磁强计将为广泛的材料系统提供开创性和变革性的研究和培训机会，带来目前在Paso del Norte地区数百英里附近不存在的区域能力。SQUID磁力计将能够在1.8 K至1000 K的温度范围内、高达7特斯拉的磁场和外部光源下表征微量磁性材料的磁特性（180-1100 nm），0至1.3 GPa的压力范围，并提供测量作为温度、磁场、压力照明和样品取向。除了上级灵敏度之外，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、低成本的设施，可以显著放大长期的区域科学产出。该工具将支持各种研究活动，包括：（a）研究货车德瓦耳斯固体在原位光激发和压力下的磁性，（B）表征前所未有的具有开壳结构的铀内嵌富勒烯和稀土化合物以探测它们的电子和磁性，（c）阐明Ru基系统的电子结构和迷人的磁性特征，（d）开发用于下一代热应用的磁性和多铁性材料，（e）研究纳米复合薄膜的磁性和超导性质，（f）检查需要原位光激发的磁性有机框架，（g）探索需要磁化率和交流电选项的古岩石磁性方面，以及（h）研究高温磁电材料。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project will acquire a modern multi-purpose Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer with closed cycle cryogen-free operation with unprecedented sensitivity. Currently, no measurement equipment with comparable capability is available to researchers in the Paso del Norte region. The proposed acquisition of this equipment will fill a critical void in the research infrastructure of El Paso, serving as a shared resource for measurement needs of many users. The instrument will be vital to shortening the scientific discovery process and technology development. Advanced magnetic, electronic, and optical methods developed using this instrument will further enhance the research infrastructure to provide valuable new capabilities for scientists and engineers working in three different predominantly Hispanic Serving Institutes, namely, UTEP, New Mexico State University (NMSU), and New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU). Graduate and undergraduate students participating in the research projects will gain hands-on experience in advanced measurement techniques on a platform widely used in research and development laboratories around the world. The principal investigators will leverage the established partnerships with community outreach programs at UTEP, NMSU, and NMHU to involve high school and Hispanic students in research and educational activities. The availability of this instrument will help attract excellent researchers to the universities in the Paso del Norte regionThe proposed SQUID magnetometer will enable groundbreaking and transformative research and training opportunities on a broad range of material systems, bringing regional capabilities that do not currently exist within the vicinity of several hundred miles in the Paso del Norte region. The SQUID magnetometer will be able to characterize the magnetic properties of minute quantities of magnetic material over a temperature range from 1.8 K to 1000 K, magnetic fields up to 7 Tesla, external light source (180-1100 nm), pressure range of 0 to 1.3 GPa, and provide new capabilities for measuring physical properties as a function of temperature, magnetic field, pressure, illumination, and sample orientation. In addition to superior sensitivity, 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 long-term regional scientific output. The instrument will support diverse research activities including the following: (a) studying the magnetic properties of van der Waals solids upon in-situ photoexcitation and pressure, (b) characterizing unprecedented uranium endohedral fullerenes and rare earth compounds with open shell structures to probe their electronic and magnetic properties, (c) elucidating the electronic structure and fascinating magnetic characteristics of Ru-based systems, (d) developing magnetic and multiferroic materials for next generation thermal applications, (e) investigating the magnetic and superconducting properties of nanocomposite thin films, (f) examining magnetic organic frameworks that necessitate in-situ photoexcitation, (g) exploring the aspects of paleorock magnetism that needs susceptibility and alternating current options, and (h) investigating high temperature magnetoelectric materials.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.