MRI: Development of A Magneto-Optical Spectroscopy System for Investigation of Spintronic and Quantum Materials

非技术描述：新材料的发现使许多技术突破成为可能。一旦新材料被合成，其新的性能和潜在的应用将通过仔细和先进的表征测量来揭示。该项目资助了一种独特的光学表征仪器的开发，以研究广泛的量子材料和磁性材料。该仪器能够在放置在磁场中的同一区域和低温下对光-物质相互作用进行多种类型的测量。研究了两个光光子组合为单光子时的线性光-物质相互作用和非线性相互作用。研究人员使用该仪器研究原子层或薄膜厚度只有一个原子或几个原子的薄材料，以及其中含有大量微小磁铁的材料。在未来的信息时代，这些材料可能被用来建造存储大量数据的存储设备。除了在实验设施中建造仪器外，该团队还为学生和用户开发课程和培训材料。这些学生将成为未来科技部门的劳动力，并为建立一个具有全球竞争力的经济做出贡献。技术描述：该团队开发了一种磁光光谱系统，以促进和推进德克萨斯州及其他州对自旋电子和量子材料的研究。关键仪器包括(I)闭合循环磁光低温恒温器；(Ii)用于非弹性光散射(拉曼和布里渊散射)以及磁光克尔效应和二次谐波产生的高分辨率光谱仪；(Iii)定制的样品处理系统，以便人们可以在不加热低温恒温器的情况下更换样品，以提高工作效率。该仪器促进了对磁性和量子材料的发现和基本了解。要研究的材料的例子包括由过渡金属二卤化物组成的范德华异质结构、具有长程磁序的拓扑材料和超导体。通过对同一样品进行几次光谱测量，可以获得以其他方式难以获得的全面信息。对自旋电子和量子材料的基本理解将对信息存储和处理技术产生广泛影响。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:Many technological breakthroughs are enabled by the discovery of new materials. Once new materials are synthesized, their new properties and potential applications are revealed via careful and advanced characterization measurements. This project funds the development of a unique optical characterization instrument to study a wide range of quantum materials and magnetic materials. The instrument enables multiple types of measurements of light-matter interaction at the same area of samples placed in a magnetic field and at low temperatures. Both linear light-matter interactions and nonlinear interactions, when two light photons are combined to a single photon, are studied. Researchers use the instrument to investigate atomically thin materials, with the thickness of the layers or films only one atom or a few atoms, and materials with a large number of tiny magnets in them. These materials could potentially be used to build memory devices for storing a large amount of data in the information age of the future. In addition to building the instrument in an experimental facility, the team develops courses and training materials for students and users. These students will become the future workforce in the scientific and technological sectors and contribute to building a globally competitive economy.Technical Description:The team develops a magneto-optical spectroscopy system to promote and advance studies of spintronic and quantum materials in the state of Texas and beyond. The key instrument includes (i) a closed-cycle magneto-optical cryostat; (ii) high-resolution spectrometers for inelastic light scattering (Raman and Brillouin scattering) as well as magneto-optical Kerr effect and second harmonic generation; (iii) a custom-made sample handling system so that one can change samples without warming up the cryostat to improve the efficiency of the operation. The instrument facilitates the discoveries and fundamental understanding of magnetic and quantum materials. Examples of materials to be investigated include van der Waals heterostructures consisting of transition metal dichalcogenides, topological materials with long-range magnetic order and superconductors. By performing several spectroscopy measurements on the same sample, one may gain comprehensive information that is difficult to obtain otherwise. The fundamental understanding of spintronic and quantum materials will have a broad impact on information storage and processing technologies.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.