NIRT: Collaborative Research: Spin Transport and Dynamics in Nanoscale Hybrid-Structures

这个纳米级跨学科研究团队汇集了最先进的自旋隧道科学的专业知识，并在单电子晶体管的制造和表征方面取得了成功。这里的目标是通过探测纳米级岛屿上自旋的量子态和动力学来理解基于自旋的纳米制造结构的科学，为新一代超快速和非易失性电子产品奠定基础。该计划从基于成熟的单电子晶体管结构和处理的简单纳米结构的制造开始，用铁磁电极注入极化自旋。这些新的纳米级混合结构将用于测试各种理论预测的现象，如增强磁电阻，单电子充电效应，电导振荡和自旋扩散。这项工作的一个新特点是通过使用磁性半导体的自旋过滤，将完全极化的自旋注入到非磁性材料中，如碳纳米管、非磁性金属和超导体。最终，在高灵敏度纳米结构中控制自旋的单电子的定位将使基于自旋的新型和更通用的设备成为可能，迄今为止，这是基于大量自旋极化电子的行为而追求的。该计划为参与纳米科学教育的学生（各级）提供了一个极好的机会；以互补和共同的目标参与真正的团队努力。学生们将在多学科领域工作——物理学、材料科学和纳米器件，在基于自旋的研究方面接受培训和教育，为未来的技术奠定基础，这在美国已经供不应求。认识到电子自旋是一种二元变量，类似于目前在半导体中使用的电荷，开辟了新的科学和技术领域，已经导致了商业设备，称为自旋电子学。这个跨学科的团队将解决潜在的基础科学和工程研究问题，这些问题对纳米级自旋电子学（也称为自旋电子学）的新兴领域至关重要。尽管最近取得了一些进展，应用前景也很有潜力，但自旋电子学领域才刚刚开始揭开面纱，（在很大程度上仍未被探索），需要广泛的研究努力。提出的研究（阐明自旋输运，包括自旋隧道和从铁磁体注入非磁性金属，超导体或半导体）对纳米尺度科学和未来信息技术有很大的希望。这一目标得到了有前途的自旋输运新材料组合的研究和纳米结构中强大的、创新的自旋动力学探针的发展的支持。该团队拥有物理学家、材料科学家和电气工程师的互补知识和专业知识，将有效地解决从概念层面到近设备阶段的所有问题。该计划最终将导致新型自旋电子设备，满足低功耗、宽带和超高密度的标准，包括极其强大的计算机。在pi和博士后的指导下，将有大量的博士生，以及重要的本科生和高中生参与该项目。该培训将培养纳米科学和基于自旋的信息技术领域高要求的未来科学家和工程师，以保持国家未来的技术实力，这对国家安全至关重要。＊＊＊

This Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team brings together expertise in state-of-the-art spin-tunneling science with proven success in fabrication and characterization of single-electron transistors. The goal here is to understand science in spin-based nano-fabricated structures by probing the quantum states and dynamics of spins on nano-sized islands, laying the foundation for a new generation of ultra-fast and non-volatile electronics. This program begins with the fabrication of simple nanostructures based on proven single-electron transistor architecture and processing, with ferromagnetic electrode(s) to inject polarized spins. These new nanoscale hybrid structures will be used to test various theoretically predicted phenomena such as enhanced magnetoresistance, single-electron charging effects, conductance oscillations, and spin diffusion. One of the novel features of this effort is to inject fully polarized spins into nonmagnetic materials such as carbon nanotubes, nonmagnetic metals, and superconductors, by spin filtering through the use of a magnetic semiconductor. Ultimately, the localization of a single-electron of controlled spin in a highly sensitive nanostructure will enable novel and more versatile spin-based devices, which so far is being pursued based on the behavior of large numbers of spin-polarized electrons. This program represents an excellent opportunity for the students (of all levels) involved being educated in the nanoscience; participate in a true team effort with complementary and collective goals. The students will work in multidisciplinary areas - physics, materials science, and nano-devices, getting trained and educated in the spin-based research laying the foundation for future technology, which is already in short supply in the U.S. %%%The recognition of electron spin as a binary variable analogous to its charge as currently used in semiconductors, opened new fields of science and technology that have already led to commercial devices, called spin electronics. This interdisciplinary team will address the underlying fundamental science and engineering research issues that are critical to the emerging field of nanoscale spin electronics (also called as spintronics). In spite of the recent progress and potentially promising for applications, the field of spintronics just beginning to unravel, (remains largely unexplored) and requires extensive research efforts. The proposed research (elucidating spin transport including spin tunneling and injection from a ferromagnet into a nonmagnetic metal, superconductor or a semiconductor) holds great promise for nanoscale science and future information technology. This aim is supported by the investigation of promising new materials combinations for spin transport and the development of powerful, innovative probes of spin dynamics in nanostructures. This team, with complementary knowledge and expertise - of physicists, material scientists and electrical engineers, will efficiently address all the issues from the conceptual level to the near-device stage. The proposed program will ultimately lead to novel spin electronic devices that meet the criteria for low power, broadband, and ultra high density including extremely powerful computers. Many PhD students, and importantly undergraduates and high school students will take part in this program under the guidance of the PIs and postdoctoral fellows. The training will generate future scientists and engineers in high demands in the area of nano-science and spin-based information technology to maintain the future technological prowess of the country, critically necessary for the national security. ***