Collaborative Research: Optimizing KTaO3 Superconductivity for Quantum Applications

该项目的重点是开发和理解一类新的“二维超导体”——超薄材料，其中电流可以无阻力地流动。该研究通过基础材料研究和薄膜沉积技术的发展来解决技术挑战。在这个项目中生长的高质量薄膜影响了对二维超导体的理论认识。制造的设备使研究人员能够评估所提出的材料作为量子信息处理平台的适用性。这些研究活动有助于培养本科生和研究生进行先进的量子和纳米技术研究。该项目还包括在当地社区开展外展活动，特别侧重于扩大代表性不足群体对STEM的参与。本项目旨在探索新发现的二维各向异性超导体KTaO3的性质。研究人员培育了高质量的KTaO3异质结构，并利用局部和全局技术对其进行了表征。他们计划沿着不同的晶体学方向制作约瑟夫森结和动力学电感器，以研究该系统中各向异性超导的性质。他们还计划探索利用外部电场门控控制这些结构的可能性。这些研究初步评估了KTaO3作为量子信息处理固有的低噪声平台的适用性。该项目还为研究生、本科生和高中生提供电子设备制造和测量（Finkelstein实验室）以及薄膜沉积和材料表征（Ahadi实验室）方面的培训机会。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。

Non-TechnicalThe project focuses on the development and understanding of a new class of “two-dimensional superconductors” – ultra thin materials, in which electric current can flow without resistance. The research addresses technical challenges through basic materials studies and the development of thin film deposition techniques. The high-quality films grown in this project impact the theoretical understanding of two-dimensional superconductors. The fabricated devices allow the researchers to assess the suitability of the proposed materials as a platform for quantum information processing. These research activities contribute to training of undergraduate and graduate students in advanced quantum and nanotechnological research. The project also includes outreach in the local community, with a special focus on broadening the participation of underrepresented groups in STEM.TechnicalThis project aims to explore the nature of the recently discovered two-dimensional anisotropic superconductor KTaO3. The researchers grow high quality heterostructures of KTaO3 and characterizes them with local and global techniques. They plan to make Josephson junctions and kinetic inductors along various crystallographic directions to investigate the nature of anisotropic superconductivity in this system. They also plan to explore the possibility of controlling these structures using external electric-field gating. These studies serve as an initial suitability assessment of KTaO3 as an intrinsic and low-noise platform for quantum information processing. The project also provides training opportunities for graduate, undergraduate and high school students in electronic device fabrication and measurements (Finkelstein lab) and thin film deposition and materials characterization (Ahadi lab).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.