Experimental Studies of Nanoscopic Superconductors: Half-flux Quantum, Metallic State of Cooper Pairs, and the Berry's Phase

近年来，对纳米尺度超导体的研究取得了很大进展，对数十种新物理现象的观察和几个有趣的理论预测的发表证明了这一点。后者包括导致pi结的负约瑟夫森耦合，从而在传统的S波超导体中产生半通量量子态和新涡旋态，在介观系统中产生库珀对的金属态和Berry相。这一个人研究人员奖支持一个项目，该项目将通过样品制造和测量技术的创新来寻找这些预测的物理现象。与此同时，该项目将实现其教育目标，包括本科生和研究生培训以及公众宣传，重点是吸引更多的妇女和少数群体从事科学工作。样品制造中新物理现象的发现和新技术的发展将对纳米技术产生广泛影响。为了保持计算机、电信和电子商务等半导体行业令人印象深刻的增长，需要开发传统技术的替代品。人们认识到，在纳米尺度上运行的新技术将变得越来越重要。在这种背景下，对纳米级超导体的研究取得了很大进展，观察到了数十种新的物理现象，并发表了几个有趣的理论预测，证明了这一点。这一个人研究人员奖支持一个项目，该项目将寻找理论预测的新的物理现象。同时，该项目将追求学生培训和公众宣传的教育目标，重点是吸引更多的妇女和少数群体进入科学和工程专业。样品制造中新的物理现象和新技术的发现将对纳米技术产生更广泛的影响。

Research in superconductors on the nanometer scale has made strong headway in recent years, evidenced by the observation of scores of new physical phenomena and the publication of several intriguing theoretical predictions. The latter include negative Josephson coupling that results in pi-junctions, and therefore, half-flux quantum and novel vortex states, in conventional s-wave superconductors, a metallic state of Cooper pairs, and the Berry's phase in mesoscopic systems. This individual investigator award supports a project that will seek out these predicted physical phenomena, through innovations in sample fabrication and measurement techniques. At the same time the project will pursue its educational goals, including undergraduate and graduate student training as well as public outreach with an emphasis on attracting more women and minorities to science. The discovery of new physical phenomena and the development of novel techniques in sample fabrication will have a broad impact on nanoscale technologies.In order to maintain the impressive growth in the semiconductor industries such as seen in the computer, telecommunication, and e-commerce sectors, alternatives to the traditional technology need to be developed. It is recognized that new technologies operating at the nanoscale will become increasingly important. Within this context, research in superconductors on the nanometer scale has made strong headways, evidenced by the observation of scores of new physical phenomena and the publication of several intriguing theoretical predictions. This individual investigator award supports a project that will seek out the novel physical phenomena predicted by theory. At the same time the project will pursue the educational goals of student training and public outreach with an emphasis on attracting more women and minorities to science and engineering. The discovery of new physical phenomena and novel techniques in sample fabrication will have a broader impact on nanoscale technologies.