Equipment Proposal: Establish a Laser Physics Research Facility

少数族裔机构研究改进计划（RIMI）的设立是为了提供支持，加强以少数族裔为主的机构或拥有大量少数族裔学生的机构的研究环境和能力。符合条件的机构还必须有科学或工程方面的研究生课程。该基金为教师在科学和工程领域的研究提供资金，并为购置研究仪器提供资金。弗吉尼亚州立大学将利用RIMI的支持建立一个激光物理研究设施。该设施将专注于半导体表面激光诱导损伤机制的研究，并将使用波长调制吸收光谱研究半导体的缺陷和深层水平。此外，使用来自布鲁克海文国家实验室交替梯度同步加速器的极化正介子，将研究在微秒时间范围内被强脉冲激光束击中的晶体（金属和半导体）中的非平衡损伤效应。通过对砷化镓和硅在亚阈值频率下的研究，本项目的结果将扩大现有的半导体激光诱导损伤知识库。研究人员在几个国家实验室（费米、劳伦斯利弗莫尔）和私营部门实验室（IBM、通用电气）进行了研究。基金会之所以支持这个项目，是因为少数民族将有更多的机会参与有价值的激光研究。

The Research Improvement in Minority Institutions (RIMI) program was established to provide support to strengthen the research environments and capabilities of predominantly minority institutions or institutions that have substantial minority student populations. Eligible institutions must also have graduate programs in science or programs in engineering. Funding is provided for faculty research in fields of science and engineering supported by the Foundation and for the acquisition of research instrumentation. Virginia State University will use RIMI support to establish a laser physics research facility. The facility will focus on the study of laser-induced damage mechanisms at semiconductor surfaces and will investigate defects and deep levels in semiconductors using wavelength modulation absorption spectroscopy. In addition, non-equilibriam damage effects occurring in crystals (metals and semiconductors) in the microsecond time range which are struck by powerful pulsed laser beams will be studied using polarized positive muons from the Brookhaven National Laboratory Alternating Gradient Synchrotron. Results from this project should expand the existing knowledge base of laser-induced damage in semiconductors by the conduct of research on gallium arsenide and silicon at subthreshold frequencies. The investigators have done research at several national laboratories (Fermi, Lawrence Livermore) and private sector laboratories (IBM, General Electric). The Foundation has supported this project because minorities will have greater opportunities to participate in meritorious laser research.