MRI: Development of a Scanning Single-Electron Box Electrometer Microscope for Studying Materials for Quantum Science and Technology

非技术描述：表征纳米尺度材料的电性能在从化学到物理到量子计算的广泛基础和应用研究领域中变得至关重要。特别地，静电势分布和电荷分布在包括量子器件的纳米级电子器件中具有根本重要性。该项目开发了一种新型的扫描探针显微镜，用于开创亚纳米空间分辨率的极灵敏的电势/电荷测量。开发的仪器将用于研究各种先进材料和新型器件。研究生和本科生参与精密仪器开发和研究的科学。德州州立大学作为一个西班牙裔服务机构的地位，增加了在研究活动中的代表性不足的少数民族参与的可能性。技术说明：这主要研究仪器（MRI）补助金支持发展的扫描单电子盒静电计显微镜，这是基于原子力显微镜和集成的单电子盒与其探针尖端，作为一个敏感的电荷传感器。它能够检测极少量的电荷和电势，并提供具有亚纳米空间分辨率的电势/电荷的空间图。该项目的成果将是具有极高电荷/电势灵敏度的低温原子力显微镜。该仪器设计用于在低至20 mK的温度和高达9 T的磁场下在无冷冻剂稀释冰箱中对样品进行操作。该奖项将用于研究量子计算机中单个量子点的电荷状态以及二维材料/电子系统、拓扑绝缘体和超导体中的新型电子状态。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Nontechnical Description:Characterization of electrical properties of materials in nanometer scale dimensions has become crucial in a broad range of fundamental and applied research fields ranging from chemistry to physics to quantum computation. In particular, the electrostatic potential profile and electric charge distribution is of fundamental importance in nanoscale electronic devices including quantum devices. This project develops a novel scanning probe microscope for pioneering extremely sensitive measurements of electric potential/charge with sub-nanometer spatial resolution. The developed instrument will be used to study a wide range of advanced materials and novel devices. Graduate and undergraduate students participate in the science of precision instrumentation development and research. The status of Texas State University as a Hispanic Serving Institution increases the likelihood of participation of underrepresented minorities in the research activities.Technical Description:This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) grant supports the development of a scanning single-electron box electrometer microscope, which is based on an atomic force microscope and an integrated single-electron box with its probe tip that serves as a sensitive charge sensor. It enables detection of extremely small quantities of electric charge and electric potential and provides the spatial map of electric potential/charge with sub-nanometer spatial resolution. The outcome of the project will be a cryogenic atomic force microscope with an extremely high electric charge/potential sensitivity. The instrument is designed to operate with samples at temperature as low as 20 mK and in magnetic fields up to 9 T in a cryogen-free dilution refrigerator. It will be used to investigate the charge state of individual quantum dots for quantum computers and novel electronic states in two-dimensional materials/electronic systems, topological insulators, and superconductors.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.