RUI: Ultrafast Optical Studies of Nanoscale Acoustic and Thermal Transport

非技术：该项目是对纳米级材料中热和超声波传播的实验研究，具有技术相关性。一种超快激光器（光脉冲小于百万分之一秒的百万分之一）将被用于在薄膜中产生和探测热波和声波。首先研究的材料是悬浮在聚合物介质中的碳纳米管组成的纳米复合薄膜。最近发展的制造方法可能导致薄膜具有优越的热输运，其研究是当务之急。研究极端超声波（频率比超声波高1000倍）在纳米级薄膜和晶体衬底中的传输是第二个要解决的问题。据设想，这种声波可以用于埋藏纳米结构的二维和三维成像，并提高清晰度。这项研究的很大一部分将由瓦萨学院（Vassar College）的本科生进行，这是一所四年制文理学院，与新墨西哥州立大学（New Mexico State University）的研究人员合作。接触激光技术和纳米物理的本科生将获得巨大的教育效益，这将为他们在生物学、医学、物理学、光学和量子计算方面的职业生涯做好准备。通过参加专业会议，学生将有机会发展国际同事和合作者网络。技术：本项目是对薄膜和纳米结构中的热传输和声传输的实验研究。为此，将开发一种超快桌面光学实验和分子模拟。首先要研究的是悬浮在聚合物基体上的碳纳米管纳米复合薄膜的热传导。新墨西哥州立大学的研究人员最近开发了制造这种薄膜的方法，这种薄膜很可能表现出优越的热输运。第二个要研究的课题是薄膜和晶体衬底中相干声子（皮秒超声）的研究。设想在0.1 ~ 1thz范围内的声子可以用于二维和三维成像，提高埋地纳米结构的空间分辨率。拟议研究的很大一部分将由四年制文理学院瓦萨学院（Vassar College）的本科生进行。本科学生通过接触超快光学技术和纳米级固体物理，将从该项目中受益匪浅。

Non-Technical:This project is an experimental investigation of the propagation of heat and ultrasound in nanoscale materials that are of technological relevance. An ultrafast laser (with light pulses of less than 1 millionth of 1 millionth of a second) will be used to, both, produce and detect heat and sound waves in thin films. The materials that will be studied first are nanocomposite thin films composed of carbon nanotubes suspended in a polymer medium. Recently developed fabrication methods may result in films having superior thermal transport, and their investigation is of the immediate priority. The study of the transmission of extreme ultrasound (1000 times higher in frequency than ultrasound) in nanoscale thin films and crystalline substrates is the second problem that will be addressed. It is envisioned that such sound waves could be used for 2-D and 3-D imaging of buried nanostructures with improved clarity. A significant portion of the research will be performed by undergraduate students at Vassar College, a four-year liberal arts college in partnership with researchers at New Mexico State University. The undergraduate students exposed to the laser techniques and the nanoscale physics will draw an enormous educational benefit that will prepare them for careers in biology, medicine, physics, optics, and quantum computations. Through their participation in professional conferences, the students will have an opportunity to develop an international network of colleagues and collaborators.Technical: This project is an experimental investigation of thermal and acoustic transport in thin films and nanostructures. An ultrafast table-top optical experiment and molecular simulations will be developed for this purpose. The first priority is the study of thermal conduction in nanocomposite thin films of carbon nanotubes suspended in a polymer host. Recently developed fabrication methods, by researchers at New Mexico State University, for such films are likely to exhibit superior thermal transport. The second topic to be investigated is the study of coherent acoustic phonons (picosecond ultrasonics) in thin films and crystalline substrates. It is envisioned that acoustic phonons in the 0.1 to 1 THz range could be used for 2-D and 3-D imaging with improved spatial resolution of buried nanostructures. A significant portion of the proposed research will be performed by undergraduate students at Vassar College, a four-year liberal arts college. The undergraduate students, through exposure to the ultrafast optical techniques and the nanoscale solid state physics, will enormously benefit from this project.