Vibrational and Electronic Properties of Complex Metal Oxides by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

该项目由材料研究部电子与光子材料（EPM）和陶瓷（CER）项目共同资助。非技术描述：该项目培训学生，包括未被充分代表的少数民族和妇女，在薄膜的光学和x射线厚度测量（如那些用于b里约热内卢Rancho， NM的先进制造），并将学生与国家实验室的研究联系起来，特别是桑迪亚国家实验室的集成纳米技术中心。该项目确定了新型晶体氧化物的折射率和吸收系数，并研究了复杂金属氧化物中局部d和f电子与原子振动和流动s和p电子的相互作用。本研究旨在开发基于金属氧化物异质结构的新型激光器和光探测器。技术细节：该项目测量从中红外到紫外光谱区范围广泛的复杂金属氧化物的光学常数。对这些数据进行分析，得出关于这种氧化物的振动、电子和输运性质的结论。还研究了氧化物异质结构中的量子约束和应力效应以及氧化物超晶格中的亚带间跃迁。温度是调节氧化物性质的参数。结果与理论进行了比较，以实现对相关氧化物的全面了解。实验结果提供了波段结构计算所需的可调参数（如Hubbard U值）。参与本项目的本科生参观当地和区域高中，进行材料物理课堂演示。他们还在新墨西哥州立大学物理系组织了为期一周的物理夏令营。

This project is jointly funded by the Electronic and Photonic Materials (EPM) and Ceramic (CER) Programs in the Division of Materials Research. NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: This project trains students, including underrepresented minorities and women, in optical and X-ray thickness measurements of thin films (such as those used for advanced manufacturing in Rio Rancho, NM) and connects students with research at National Laboratories, especially the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Sandia National Laboratories. The project determines the refractive index and absorption coefficient of novel crystalline oxides and studies the interaction of localized d- and f-electrons with atomic vibrations and itinerant s- and p-electrons in complex metal oxides. This research aims to develop new types of lasers and light detectors based on metal oxide hetero¬structures. TECHNICAL DETAILS: This project measures the optical constants of a broad range of complex metal oxides from the mid-infrared to the ultraviolet spectral region. The data is analyzed to draw conclusions on the vibrational, electronic, and transport properties of such oxides. Quantum confinement and stress effects in oxide heterostructures and intersubband transitions in oxide superlattices are also studied. Temperature is used a parameter to tune the oxide properties. Results are compared with theory to achieve a comprehensive understanding of correlated oxides. Experimental results provide adjustable parameters (such as the Hubbard U value) needed for band structure calculations. Undergraduate students engaged in this project visit local and regional high schools and perform materials physics classroom demonstrations. They also organize a week-long physics summer day camp in the New Mexico State University Physics Department.