Plasmon Resonances and Metal Insulator Transitions in Highly Correlated Thin Film Systems

****非技术摘要****该奖项支持一个项目，其目标是了解材料中电子相互强烈相关的金属相和绝缘相之间的转变。该研究将探索二氧化钒薄膜在经历光诱导绝缘体到金属的转变后的金属相。该项目将阐明二氧化钒不同寻常的光电性质。作为实验结果的理解可能为主动控制和定制新型光学器件（例如开关）和传感器的特性提供新的机会。该项目将在光学、凝聚态物质和材料科学等不同学科之间实现强大的交叉受精和协同作用。此外，该计划将为学生提供丰富的跨学科教育机会。研究项目的部分内容将用于丰富教学课程，并为更广泛的社区开展令人兴奋的外展活动。****技术摘要****该奖项支持二氧化钒（VO2）薄膜和多层结构中金属绝缘体相变的研究。目标是通过研究在经历光诱导绝缘体到金属转变后薄膜中金属相的成核和演变，更好地理解这种转变的性质[电子（Mott） vs结构（Peierls）]。在弛豫过程中，将研究金属VO2或邻近导电材料（金、银、二氧化钌等）中表面等离子体激元激发的变化。对这种相变和VO2电光性质相关变化的更好理解将用于尝试动态控制多层结构中表面等离子体或极化子的传播。拥有这种控制的能力可能会导致新的应用。该项目将为研究生和本科生提供丰富的跨学科教育机会。此外，还将编制示范，供课堂使用，并作为向更广泛的社区推广的活动。

****NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACT****This award supports a project with a goal of understanding the transition between metallic and insulating phases in materials where the electrons are strongly correlated with each other. The research will explore the metallic phase of vanadium dioxide thin films after the material has undergone a light-induced insulator-to-metal transition. The project will elucidate the unusual electro-optical properties of vanadium dioxide. The understanding developed as a result of the experiments may open new opportunities to actively control and tailor the properties of novel optical devices (e.g. switches) and sensors. The project will enable strong cross-fertilization and synergy between distinct disciplines such as optics, condensed matter and materials science. In addition, the proposed program will offer a rich spectrum of interdisciplinary educational opportunities for students. Components of the research project will be used to enrich the teaching curriculum as well as in the development of exciting outreach activities for the broader community.****TECHNICAL ABSTRACT****This award supports research focusing on the metal-insulator phase transition in vanadium dioxide (VO2) thin films and multi-layered structures. The goal is to obtain a better understanding of the nature of this transition [electronic (Mott) vs structural (Peierls)] by studying the nucleation and evolution of the metallic phase in the films after undergoing a light-induced insulator-to-metal transition. Modifications to the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons in either metallic VO2 or the adjacent conducting material (gold, silver, rutheniun dioxide, etc.) during the relaxation process will be investigated. The improved understanding of this phase transition and associated changes in the VO2 electro-optical properties will then be used to in an attempt to dynamically control surface plasmon or polariton propagation in multilayered structures. The ability to have such control may lead to novel applications. The project will involve a rich spectrum of interdisciplinary educational opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. In addition demonstrations will be developed for use in the classroom and as outreach activities to the broader community.