MRI: Acquisition of a Magneto Optic Kerr Effect (MOKE) Microscope for Research and Teaching

非技术描述：磁光克尔效应(MOKE)显微镜的原理是当光从磁性表面反射时，表面的磁化成分影响反射光的偏振或强度。当与摄像机集成时，可以直观地显示样品不同区域的面内和面外磁化方向。克尔效应是理解块体材料和薄膜的磁性行为、研究奇异磁态和表征小型磁性器件的有力工具。这些磁性设备在计算机存储器、计算、通信、能量转换、固态微冷系统等方面都有应用。购买MOKE显微镜使弗吉尼亚联邦大学(VCU)和附近的大学、行业和实验室的几个研究小组受益，并促进了它们之间的进一步合作。此外，它还促进对本科生、研究生和博士后研究员进行尖端跨学科研究和与磁学有关的K-12外联活动的培训，包括为来自代表性不足群体的K-12学生提供暑期研究经验。技术描述：用这一主要研究仪器(MRI)赠款购买的室温MOKE显微镜具有高分辨率成像能力。它包括一个白色光源，可以在标准灵敏度条件下(极地、纵向和横向MOKE)进行区域成像，还包括用于对这些波长更敏感的材料的蓝光和红光光源，以及用于在大范围(高达1.3T)内独立控制面内和面外磁场的电磁铁。从这项收购中受益的研究包括纳米尺度的磁性、天空微子、磁性的电压控制、多铁压电-磁致伸缩复合材料、可小型化的约束自旋波纳米天线、拓扑绝缘体、手性材料、非共线反铁磁体、磁电、磁热、磁热和磁光性质。这些研究活动的应用包括高能效的纳米磁性计算和通信、磁热冷却以及基于磁性纳米颗粒的生物医学和催化。该奖项反映了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。

Nontechnical Description:A magneto optic Kerr effect (MOKE) microscope is based on the principle that when light is reflected from a magnetic surface, the magnetization components of the surface affect the polarization or intensity of the reflected light. When integrated with a camera, one can visualize the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetization orientation in different regions of the sample. The Kerr effect is a powerful tool in understanding the magnetic behavior of bulk materials and thin films, studying exotic magnetic states, and characterizing small magnetic devices. Such magnetic devices have applications in computer memory, computing, communications, energy conversion, solid-state microcooling systems, etc. The acquisition of a MOKE microscope benefits several research groups at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and nearby universities, industries and laboratories and promotes further collaboration among them. In addition, it facilitates the training of undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research and magnetism-related K-12 outreach activities, including summer research experience for K-12 students from under-represented groups. Technical Description:The room-temperature MOKE microscope purchased with this major research instrumentation (MRI) grant has high resolution imaging capability. It includes a white light source that allows for domain imaging under standard sensitivity conditions (polar, longitudinal and transverse MOKE) as well as blue- and red-light sources for materials that are more sensitive to these wavelengths and electromagnets for independent control of in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic fields over a large range (up to 1.3 T). The research benefited from this acquisition includes nanoscale magnetism, skyrmions, voltage control of magnetism, multiferroic piezoelectric-magnetostrictive composites, straintronic spin-wave nano-antennas amenable to miniaturization, topological insulators, chiral materials, non-collinear antiferromagnets, magnetoelectric, magnetocaloric, magnetic hyperthermia and magneto-optic properties. The applications of these research activities include energy-efficient nanomagnetic computing and communication, magnetocaloric cooling, and magnetic nanoparticle-based biomedical and catalysis.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.