Excellence in Research - Collaborative Proposal: Investigation of Quantum Effects and Nanostructures Through Research & Educational Partnership Between NCCU & Howard University

非技术性总结量子信息科学有望给计算和通信带来革命性的变化。量子比特是量子计算的基本单位，必须将信息保留足够长的时间才能有用。研究人员提议通过利用压电效应来显著延长量子比特的寿命。它们将电荷与某些材料中的机械应力结合在一起。该项目将通过霍华德大学和北卡罗来纳中央大学这两所领先的HBCU的研究人员之间的合作，加强纳米科学的尖端研究。将理论和建模与先进的实验技术相结合，将为学生在量子计算和纳米科学技术的关键前沿领域提供强有力的培训。该项目将促进和激励少数民族和代表性不足的本科生和研究生的教育和培训。它还将促进年轻教职员工的专业发展。这一合作还将有助于这两所院校的STEM学生的招生、入学和留住。从本科生到博士生的研究人员的参与将在量子计算和纳米科学的关键前沿领域培养新一代少数族裔科学家，这些领域将影响他们的日常生活。技术总结两所研究所的研究人员追求的共同协同主题将集中在：(1)二元量子纳米结构中的电子隧道和激子动力学现象，(2)用于量子比特的压电量子点分子，(3)纳米线和纳米带的电荷动力学和光学光谱，以及(4)石墨纳米材料和压电量子点的光学和拉曼光谱。PI将开发一种新的方法，基于压电量子点中的激子为量子计算机设计量子比特，这些激子预计比目前的量子比特具有更长的纠缠时间和更高的操作温度。增加与纠缠相关的纳米结构之间的隧道效应对于量子计算机和PI提出的新型量子探测器来说是至关重要的，这种探测器的基础是通过分析物和探测器纳米结构之间态密度重叠的变化和它们之间对称性的变化来控制它们之间的隧道效应。为了实现所提出的目标，PI将开发新的理论和建模方法来计算和模拟各种纳米结构(例如量子点、纳米线、纳米带、碳纳米管和功能化石墨烯)的性质，并采用最先进的新表征技术，包括在GHz至THz范围内结合拉曼光谱、光致发光、快速飞秒光谱和非接触式电荷动力学光谱。拟议的研究伙伴关系将汇集以下利基领域的主题专家：与纳米结构相关的电荷隧道效应；用于新量子比特和量子计算的量子点分子；超材料和等离子体物理；以及石墨纳米材料和压电量子点的拉曼和激光光谱。从本科生到博士生的研究人员的参与将在量子计算和纳米科学的关键前沿领域培养新一代少数族裔科学家，这将影响他们的日常生活。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 SUMMARYQuantum-information science promises to revolutionize computation and communication. Qubits, the fundamental units of quantum computation, must retain information long enough to be useful. The investigators propose to dramatically increase qubit lifetimes by taking advantage of piezoelectric effects. These couple electrical charge with mechanical stress in certain materials. The project will enhance cutting-edge research in nanoscience through a collaboration between researchers in Howard University and North Carolina Central University, two leading HBCUs. A combination of theory and modeling with advanced experimental techniques will provide students with strong training in key frontier areas of quantum computing and nanoscience and technology. The project will promote and inspire the education and training of minority and underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students. It will also enhance the professional development of young faculty members. This collaboration will also help the recruitment, enrollment, and retention of STEM students at both institutions. The involvement of researchers ranging from undergraduates to doctoral students will train a new generation of minority scientists in key frontier areas of quantum computing and nanoscience that will impact their everyday lives.TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe common synergistic themes pursued by researchers at both institutions will focus on: (1) electron tunneling and exciton dynamics phenomena in binary quantum nanostructures, (2) piezoelectric quantum dot molecules for qubits, (3) charge dynamics and optical spectroscopy of nanowires and nanoribbons, and (4) the optical and Raman spectroscopy of graphitic nanomaterials and piezoelectric quantum dots. The PIs will develop a novel approach for designing qubits for quantum computers based on excitons in piezoelectric quantum dots that are expected to have longer entanglement times and higher operating temperatures than present qubits. Increasing tunneling between nanostructures that is correlated with entanglement is crucial for quantum computers and for the novel kind of quantum detectors that the PIs are proposing, which are based on controlling the tunneling between an analyte and the detector’s nanostructures by the changes in the overlap between their densities of states and the change in the symmetry between them. In order to achieve the proposed objectives, the PIs will develop new theoretical and modeling approaches to calculate and simulate the properties of a variety of nanostructures (e.g. quantum dots, nanowires, nanoribbons, carbon nanotubes, and functionalized graphene) and employ state-of-the-art novel characterization techniques that include combinations of Raman spectroscopy, photoluminescence, fast femtosecond spectroscopy, and contactless charge dynamics spectroscopy in the GHz to THz range. The proposed research partnership will bring together subject matter experts in the following niche areas: charge tunneling associated with nanostructures; quantum dot molecules for novel qubits and quantum computing; metamaterials and plasmonic physics; and the Raman and laser spectroscopy of graphitic nanomaterials and piezoelectric quantum dots. The involvement of researchers ranging from undergraduates to doctoral students will train a new generation of minority scientists in key frontier areas of quantum computing and nanoscience that will impact their everyday lives.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.