MRI: Development of a high-magnetic-field ultrafast and terahertz spectrometer for materials research in the Deep South

杜兰大学主要研究仪器计划和数学和物理科学局多学科活动办公室授予杜兰大学的这一奖项支持设计和建造一种先进的科学工具，用于研究物质和材料在非常强的磁场中的行为。这台仪器将由两个主要部分组成：一个非常强大的超导磁体和一套激光。激光将被用来探测材料对强磁场和极低温度的反应。仪器开发完成后，外部用户即可使用仪器。这一仪器的主要科学驱动力是量子物质，这是我们对电子在各种材料中的行为方式的理解的进步，并向它们灌输它们的性质，如磁性或超导电性。这些基本的科学认识支撑了许多技术奇迹，如医疗诊断设备、我们手机和平板电脑中的计算芯片、磁性数据存储技术、手机相机、新型节能LED灯泡等。通过基础物理研究，该仪器将促进物理学的进步，促进国家的繁荣。这一工具还将有助于研究生和本科生的高等教育，从而建设一支面向新世纪的受过教育的国家劳动力队伍。作为优先事项，研究团队促进路易斯安那州泽维尔大学的女性和少数族裔在科学和工程领域的参与，该大学是当地历史上的黑人学院或大学。该奖项支持开发一种多用户仪器，用于在高达17T的磁场中进行超快太赫兹(THz)光谱分析。磁体低温恒温器提供2.5-300K范围内的样品温度控制，并且不含制冷剂。四种高场实验模式将在Faraday和Voigt光学配置下提供：i)基于光导天线的太赫兹时域光谱分析，其光谱范围为0.2-3 THz；ii)基于空气等离子体THz产生的时间分辨THz光谱分析，并在0.3-10 THz光谱范围内进行空气击穿检测；iii)通过样品绕表面法线旋转产生二次谐波；iv)光泵探测光谱学。该仪器将使人们能够创新性地研究多铁性中的磁电激发和光学非互易性；搜索Weyl半金属中手性反常和非平凡带拓扑的光学特征；拓扑材料和磁性材料的二次谐波产生和光学泵浦-探测研究；高温超导化合物的时间分辨太赫兹光谱分析。该仪器将成为全国先进研究基础设施的一部分。该仪器是独一无二的，因为它在规格和能力上远远超过美国其他类似的大学研究工具。除了11个已确定的外部团体对该仪器最近的能力表示了强烈的兴趣外，该仪器还吸引了潜在的当地用户和全国各地的用户。该项目有助于培训下一代仪器开发人员。从长远来看，它将为数十名研究生和本科生的教育做出贡献。该项目明确促进女性和少数族裔参与科学和工程。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award to Tulane University from the Major Research Instrumentation program and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities of the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences supports the design and building of an advanced scientific tool for studying how matter and materials behave when they are placed in very strong magnetic field. This instrument will consist of two main parts: a very strong superconducting magnet and a set of lasers. Laser light will be used to probe how materials react to the strong magnetic field and to very low temperatures. Upon completion of the instrument development, the instrument will be available to outside user. The major science drivers of this instrument is in quantum matter, the advancement of our understanding of how electrons behave inside a wide variety of materials and imbue them with their properties, such as magnetism or superconductivity. Such basic scientific understanding underpins many technological marvels such as in medical diagnostic devices, computing chips in our phones and tablets, magnetic data storage technology, cell phone cameras, new energy-efficient LED light bulbs, and more. Through basic physics research, the proposed instrument will promote the progress of physics and advance national prosperity. This instrument will also contribute to advanced education of graduate and undergraduate students, thus building an educated national workforce for the new century. As a priority, the team of researchers promotes the participation in science and engineering fields of women and underrepresented minorities from Xavier University of Louisiana, a local Historically Black College or University.This award supports the development of a multi-user instrument for ultrafast terahertz (THz) spectroscopy in high magnetic fields of up to 17 T. The magnet cryostat provides the sample temperature control in the 2.5-300 K range and is cryogen-free. Four high-field experimental modalities will be available in both Faraday and Voigt optical configurations: i) THz time-domain spectroscopy based on photoconductive antennas with 0.2 - 3 THz spectral range; ii) time-resolved THz spectroscopy based on air-plasma THz generation and air-breakdown detection with 0.3 - 10 THz spectral range; iii) second harmonic generation with sample rotation about the surface normal; iv) optical pump-probe spectroscopy. The instrument will enable innovative research in magneto-electric excitations and optical nonreciprocity in multiferroics; search for the optical signatures of the chiral anomaly and the non-trivial band topology in Weyl semimetals; second harmonic generation and optical pump-probe studies of topological and magnetic materials; time-resolved THz spectroscopy of high-temperature superconducting pnictides. The instrument will become a part of the nationwide advanced research infrastructure. The instrument is unique, as it far outperforms in its specifications and capabilities other similar university-based research tools in the United States. In addition to eleven identified outside groups who have expressed a strong interest in the instrument capabilities in the nearest term.The instrument attracts potential local users and from across the Nation. The project contributes to the training of next the generation instrument developers. In the long run it will contribute to the education of dozens of graduate and undergraduate students. The project explicitly promotes the participation of women and underrepresented minorities in sciences and engineering.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.