MRI: Aquisition of an IR Ellipsomter for Undergraduate Research & Education

最先进的红外椭圆计将补充现有的UV-VIS椭圆计，并将继续为凯尼恩大学的本科生提供丰富的研究环境。利用该仪器，我们计划具体解决与半导体和有机纳米结构相关的四个基本问题：(i)确定窄带隙稀释磁性半导体的ir介电函数，以破译其带结构，并了解其铁磁性的起源；（ii）研究铍基半导体的声子结构，并获得它们的行为与合金浓度的关系；（iii）探索介电函数如何随掺杂、应变和温度的变化而变化，并更好地理解电子-声子耦合和耦合等离子体-声子效应；（iv）测量由纳米颗粒和聚电解质组成的一层一层生长的纳米结构的光学功能，并将它们与这些结构的分子构象、结构和取向联系起来。该建议的更广泛影响将如下：(i)显著推进物理和化学专业的科学研究和研究培训，这将随后影响学生追求更高的学位；（二）将红外-椭偏实验纳入几门物理课程，将所有物理专业的学生引入半导体和纳米结构领域，从而增加人才和学生进入科技队伍；（iii）对少数群体，特别是女性产生强烈影响，因为凯尼恩大学物理学专业的女性比例很高（42%）（超过全国平均水平的两倍）；（iv）加强校园教学与科研的结合；（五）促进物理系与化学系之间的跨学科合作。该项目的目标将根据逻辑模型进行评估，结果将通过出版物和演示文稿传播。此外，提案的主题将作为外展计划的一部分提交给高中教师。椭偏法是一种利用光波的变化来研究材料性质的技术。有了这个工具，我们打算研究可能用于未来电子设备的材料的行为。我们的研究将集中在将磁性纳入半导体材料的材料上，类似于目前用于晶体管的材料。在这些材料中加入磁性是一种可能的途径，可以使计算机运行速度更快，功耗更低，废热更少。在凯尼恩学院，我们的学生群体是多样化的，其中包括很大比例的主修物理学的女性，所以这个工具将被用来介绍代表性不足的群体进行科学研究。

The proposed state-of-the-art IR-ellipsometer will complement the existing UV-VIS ellipsometer, and will continue to provide a rich research climate to Kenyon undergraduates. Using the instrument, we plan to specifically address four fundamental issues related to semiconductors and organic nanostructures: (i) to determine the IR-dielectric functions of narrow-bandgap diluted magnetic semiconductors in order to decipher their band structure, and to understand the origin of their ferromagnetism; (ii) to investigate the phonon structure of Be- based semiconductors and to obtain their behavior as a function of alloy concentration; (iii) to explore how the dielectric function changes as a function of doping, strain, and temperature, and to better understand electron-phonon coupling, and coupled plasmon-phonon effects; and (iv) to measure the optical functions of layer-by-layer-grown nanostructures, consisting of nanoparticles and polyelectrolytes, and to relate them to the molecular conformation, structure, and orientation of these structures. The broader impact of the proposal will be the following: (i) to significantly advance scientific research, and research training among physics and chemistry majors, which will subsequently influence students to pursue advanced degrees; (ii) by incorporating IR- ellipsometry experiments into several physics courses, all physics majors will be introduced to the fields of semiconductors and nanostructures, resulting in the increase in talent and number of students entering the scientific and technical workforce; (iii) to have a strong impact on minority groups, particularly women, in light of the high percentage of women (42%) majoring in physics at Kenyon (over twice the national average); (iv) to enhance the integration of teaching and research on campus; and (v) to promote interdisciplinary cooperation between the physics and chemistry departments. The goals of this project will be subject to evaluation using the Logic Model, and the results will be disseminated through publications and presentations. In addition, topics of the proposal will be presented to High School teachers as a part of the outreach program. Ellipsometry is a technique that uses changes in light waves to study the properties of materials. With this tool we intend to investigate the behavior of materials that may be used in future electronic devices. Our investigations will focus on materials that incorporate magnetic properties into semiconducting materials similar to those currently used in transistors. Incorporating magnetism into these materials is a possible pathway to faster computers that run with less power and lower waste heat. At Kenyon College our student body is diverse, and includes a large percentage of women majoring in physics, so this tool will be used to introduce under-represented groups to scientific research.