MRI: Acquisition of a Magneto Optic Kerr Effect (MOKE) Microscope for Research and Teaching

非技术描述：磁光克尔效应（MOKE）显微镜的原理是，当光从磁性表面反射时，表面的磁化分量会影响反射光的偏振或强度。当与相机集成时，可以看到样品不同区域的面内和面外磁化方向。克尔效应是理解块状材料和薄膜的磁性行为、研究奇异磁态和表征小型磁性器件的有力工具。这种磁性器件在计算机存储、计算、通信、能量转换、固态微冷却系统等方面都有应用。MOKE显微镜的获得使弗吉尼亚联邦大学（VCU）和附近大学、工业和实验室的几个研究小组受益，并促进了他们之间的进一步合作。此外，它还促进了本科生、研究生和博士后在前沿跨学科研究和与磁学相关的K-12外展活动方面的培训，包括为来自代表性不足群体的K-12学生提供夏季研究经验。技术说明：本主要研究仪器（MRI）资助购买的室温MOKE显微镜具有高分辨率成像能力。它包括一个白色光源，允许在标准灵敏度条件下（极性，纵向和横向MOKE）进行区域成像，以及蓝色和红色光源，用于对这些波长更敏感的材料和电磁铁，用于在大范围内（高达1.3 T）独立控制面内和面外磁场。此次收购的研究成果包括纳米级磁学、skyrmions、磁的电压控制、多铁压电-磁致伸缩复合材料、适合小型化的应变电子自旋波纳米天线、拓扑绝缘体、手性材料、非共线反铁磁体、磁电、磁热、磁热疗和磁光特性。这些研究活动的应用包括节能纳米磁计算和通信，磁热冷却，磁性纳米粒子为基础的生物医学和催化。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

Nontechnical Description:A magneto optic Kerr effect (MOKE) microscope is based on the principle that when light is reflected from a magnetic surface, the magnetization components of the surface affect the polarization or intensity of the reflected light. When integrated with a camera, one can visualize the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetization orientation in different regions of the sample. The Kerr effect is a powerful tool in understanding the magnetic behavior of bulk materials and thin films, studying exotic magnetic states, and characterizing small magnetic devices. Such magnetic devices have applications in computer memory, computing, communications, energy conversion, solid-state microcooling systems, etc. The acquisition of a MOKE microscope benefits several research groups at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and nearby universities, industries and laboratories and promotes further collaboration among them. In addition, it facilitates the training of undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and magnetism-related K-12 outreach activities, including summer research experience for K-12 students from under-represented groups. Technical Description:The room-temperature MOKE microscope purchased with this major research instrumentation (MRI) grant has high resolution imaging capability. It includes a white light source that allows for domain imaging under standard sensitivity conditions (polar, longitudinal and transverse MOKE) as well as blue- and red-light sources for materials that are more sensitive to these wavelengths and electromagnets for independent control of in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic fields over a large range (up to 1.3 T). The research benefited from this acquisition includes nanoscale magnetism, skyrmions, voltage control of magnetism, multiferroic piezoelectric-magnetostrictive composites, straintronic spin-wave nano-antennas amenable to miniaturization, topological insulators, chiral materials, non-collinear antiferromagnets, magnetoelectric, magnetocaloric, magnetic hyperthermia and magneto-optic properties. The applications of these research activities include energy-efficient nanomagnetic computing and communication, magnetocaloric cooling, and magnetic nanoparticle-based biomedical and catalysis.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.