SPIN ELECTRONICS: Spin Manipulation in Semiconductor Nanostructures

该提案是对21世纪自旋电子学计划NSF 02-036的响应。该提案的重点是半导体纳米结构在新兴的自旋电子领域的应用。该计划的目标是：探索纳米结构自旋电子应用的演示，包括自旋滤光器、自旋阀和自旋晶体管的纳米级实现，对半导体纳米结构中的自旋极化输运进行实验研究，对半导体纳米结构中与自旋相关的电子结构和自旋退相干机制进行理论研究。这项研究的关键成果将是对半导体纳米结构的独特性质在未来自旋电子器件中可能被利用的方式的关键理解的发展。这一计划的一个重要方面是其协调结构。主要研究人员在半导体纳米结构的实验和理论研究方面有良好的记录，他们的合作有望导致高度多学科的相互作用。该研究项目本身探索了复杂的自旋电子器件的实现，如自旋阀或自旋晶体管，通过集成最基本的自旋器件--自旋过滤器--的纳米级实现。理论模型探索了这些器件中的自旋分辨亚带结构，自旋退相干的机制，以及正在研究的结构的传输特性。除了它的科学重要性，这个项目还有助于为亚利桑那州立大学的研究生和本科生教育创造一个优越的环境。它与美国国家实验室(Sandia)和日本国家实验室(National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology，AIST)的研究人员的合作进一步增强了它的教学影响。参与该项目的研究生和本科生从这些合作提供的机会中受益匪浅。例如，这些合作的一个重要组成部分是他们在该项目期间为学生提供的实习机会。同时，通过协调两个学期的高级设计项目的研究，鼓励本科生参与这个项目，这是电气工程系本科项目的毕业要求之一。正如我们过去所做的那样，我们继续努力让代表性不足的少数族裔和妇女参与这一计划。妇女参与科学和工程(WISE)计划为更广泛的推广提供了宝贵的机会，我们有参与该计划的记录，并积极鼓励女高中生参加工程学计划。通过在顶级同行评议期刊上发表文章，学生和教职员工参加会议，以及在现有NSF赞助项目下开发的中央网络资源上张贴相关材料，促进了这一计划结果的传播。

This proposal was received in response to the Spin Electronics for the 21st Century Initiative, Program Solicitation NSF 02-036. The proposal focuses on the application of semiconductor nanostructures in the emerging field of spin-based electronics. The program objectives are: To explore demonstrations of the spintronic applications of nanostructures, including nanoscale implementations of the spin filter, the spin valve, and the spin transistor To undertake experimental investigations of spin-polarized transport in semiconductor nanostructures To perform theoretical studies of the spin-dependent electronic structure of semiconductor nanostructures, and of the mechanisms of spin decoherence.The key outcome of this research is expected to be the development of a crucial understanding of the manner in which the unique properties of semiconductor nanostructures may be exploited in future spintronic devices. An important aspect of this program is its coordinated structure. The principal investigators have proven track records in the experimental and theoretical study of semiconductor nanostructures, and their collaboration is expected to result in a highly multidisciplinary interaction. The research program itself explores the implementation of complicated spintronic devices, such as the spin valve or the spin transistor, by integrating nanoscale implementations of the most basic of spin devices, the spin filter. Theoretical modeling explores the spin-resolved subband structure in these devices, the mechanisms for spin decoherence, and the transport properties of the structures being investigated.In addition to its scientific importance, this program also contributes to the creation of a superior environment for graduate and undergraduate education at Arizona State University. Its pedagogic impact is further enhanced by the collaborations it promotes with researchers at national laboratories in the US (Sandia) and Japan (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, AIST). Graduate and undergraduate students involved in this project benefit greatly from the opportunities provided by these collaborations. A significant component of these collaborations, for example, is the opportunities they provide for student internship during this program. At the same time, undergraduate involvement in this program is encouraged by coordinating the research with the two-semester senior-design projects, which form one of the graduation requirements of the undergraduate program in the Electrical Engineering Department. As we have done in the past, we continue to make efforts to involve both underrepresented minorities and women in this program. A valuable opportunity for wider outreach is provided by the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program, which we have a record of involvement in and which actively encourages female high-school students to enter engineering programs. Dissemination of the results of this program is promoted through publications in the top peer-review journals, student and faculty participation in conferences, and the posting of related material on a central web resource that is being developed under an existing NSF-sponsored project.