Acquisition of a Scanning Probe Microscope for Temperature-Dependent, Nanometer Scale Surface Characterization

这笔赠款使收购一台能够产生20 nm图案线宽度、10 nm扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和20 nm扫描俄歇显微镜(SAM)的新仪器成为可能，同时利用扫描隧道显微镜(STM/AFM)提供原子分辨率。这台新仪器将安装在现有的分子束外延(MBE)生长设备上，为阿肯色大学的科学家和工程师提供更多的半导体量子点和导线的研究机会。初步研究是使用图案化的衬底来生产横向有序的自组装量子点，以及如何设计应变来生产量子点。该项目探索了对量子点的均质性、量子点中的单电子自旋动力学、单个量子点的光学行为以及它们之间的相互作用非常重要的基础科学。将对从量子点阵列形成光子带结构的可能性进行调查。虽然新仪器旨在增强阿肯色大学教职员工和学生的研究能力，但它也将在NSF IGERT项目支持的电子光子材料和器件的新博士学位项目中发挥重要作用。纳米技术是一个新兴的领域，主要研究纳米材料。一纳米，或十亿分之一米，比目前存在的最小的电子设备小一千倍。因此，对纳米尺度的科学认识的进步将在实现未来的电子和光电子器件方面发挥重要作用。该项目使获得一台新仪器成为可能，当该仪器连接到阿肯色大学目前的分子束外延生长设备时，将为科学家和工程师提供机会来探索和推进我们目前对纳米半导体量子点和量子线的理解。它还将在NSF/IGERT计划支持的电子-光子材料和器件新的博士学位项目中发挥重要作用。我们计划的教育目标是培养出为推动纳米结构进步做好充分准备的毕业生。我们将通过利用我们的分子束外延设备以及新获得的诊断和设备制造工具来实现这一目标，作为一种新的教育工具。

0079790SalanoThis grant makes possible the acquisition of a new instrument capable of producing 20nm patterned line widths, 10nm scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 20nm scanning Auger microscopy (SAM), all while simultaneously providing atomic resolution with a scanning tunneling microscope (STM/AFM). The new instrument will be attached to the present molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth facility to provide expanded research opportunities with semiconductor quantum dots and wires for scientists and engineers at the University of Arkansas.Initial investigations are on the use of patterned substrates to produce laterally ordered self-assembled quantum dots and how to engineer strain to produce quantum dots. The project explores the underlying science important to the homogeneity of quantum dots, single electron spin dynamics in a quantum dot, and the optical behavior of a single quantum dot and the interaction between them. There will be an investigation of the possibility of forming photonic band structures from quantum dot arrays. While the new instrument is aimed at enhancing the research capability of faculty and students at the University of Arkansas, it will also play a significant role in a new Ph.D. degree program in electronic-photonic materials and devices supported under the NSF IGERT program. Nanotechnology is a new field, centered on the study of nanometer-sized materials. One nanometer, or one billionth of a meter, is one thousand times smaller than the smallest electronic devices that exist today. As a result, progress in scientific understanding on the nanoscale will play an important role in realizing future electronic and optoelectronic devices. This project makes possible the acquisition of a new instrument which when attached to the present molecular beam epitaxy growth facility at the University of Arkansas will provide the opportunity for scientists and engineers to explore and advance our current understanding of nanosize semiconductor quantum dots and wires. It will also play a significant role in a new Ph.D. degree program in electronic-photonic materials and devices, supported under the NSF/IGERT program. The educational goal of our program is to produce graduates that are fully prepared to drive the advancement of nanostructures. We will accomplish this goal by utilizing our molecular beam epitaxy facility, coupled with the newly acquired diagnostic and device fabrication tools made possible by this award, as a novel educational tool.