CAREER: Acoustic-driven Manipulation of Electrons and Exciton Species in Atomically-thin Quantum Materials

该奖项全部或部分由《2021年美国救援计划法案》（公法117-2）资助。本职业项目旨在研究新量子材料中的新量子现象。本项目研究声波对原子薄材料的电学和光学性质的影响。这些声波允许对材料的特性进行现场动态控制。该项目的目标是提高我们对低维系统中量子特性的认识，这是开发新技术、计算机和设备的关键。该项目将教育与科研紧密结合，为研究生和本科生提供量子研究培训。教育活动包括开发以前沿量子研究为重点的新课程，并在课堂上引入新的量子物理实验。这些教育活动的成果也将以西班牙语传播，以便向西班牙裔社区宣传。推广活动，如高中夏令营、实验室参观和公开讲座，特别注重向公众和媒体传播科学。招募工作的重点是将妇女和代表性不足的少数民族纳入科学界。本CAREER项目旨在通过开发一种新的有效方法来原位操纵原子薄二维（2D）材料和异质结构中的电子和激子的动力学，从而创建一个可重构的量子多体系统的固态模拟器。研究了不同二维材料和异质结构在声学动态应变模式下的电学和光学特性。这种方法可以创造非平衡量子态和长期寻找的倾斜时空晶体。这项工作可以在凝聚态和光学物理的声学驱动相变和量子物体的声学控制方面开辟一个新的分支，这将为创建固态量子模拟器和其他量子声电器件铺平道路。该项目的研究成果将为教育活动提供基础，重点是培养不同背景的量子科学研究生和本科生。实施了几项倡议，以促进代表性不足的少数民族和妇女参与量子科学。这些活动包括多种方法来增加公众对科学的参与，包括高中科学暑期项目，课堂上的量子实验，以及以量子为重点的暑期研究项目的发展。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2. NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONThis CAREER project aims at investigating novel quantum phenomena in new quantum materials. This project studies the effect of acoustic waves on the electrical and optical properties of atomically thin materials. These acoustic waves allow in-situ dynamic control of the properties of the materials. The goal of the project is to advance our knowledge of quantum properties in low-dimensional systems which is the key to developing new technologies, computers, and devices. The project strongly integrates education with research, to provide quantum research training for graduate and undergraduate students. The educational activities include the development of new coursework focused on cutting-edge quantum research and the introduction of new quantum physics experiments in the classroom. The outcome of these educational activities will also be disseminated in Spanish to reach out to the Hispanic community. Outreach activities, such as high school summer camps, laboratory visits, and public lectures have a special focus on science communication to the general public and the media. Recruiting efforts focuses on the integration of women, and underrepresented minorities, into the scientific community.TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONThis CAREER project aims at creating a reconfigurable solid-state simulator of quantum many-body systems by developing a new and effective method to manipulate the dynamics of electrons and excitons in situ in atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials and heterostructures. The electrical and optical properties of different 2D materials and heterostructures under acoustically created dynamic strain patterns are investigated. This approach enables the creation of non-equilibrium quantum states and long-sought oblique spacetime crystals. This work can open up a new branch in condensed matter and optical physics of acoustic-driven phase transitions and acoustic control of quantum objects that will pave the way towards the creation of a solid-state quantum simulator and other quantum acousto-electric devices. The research outcome of this project will provide a foundation for educational activities focused on training graduate and undergraduate students of diverse backgrounds in quantum sciences. Several initiatives are implemented to foster the participation of underrepresented minorities and women in quantum sciences. These activities include multiple approaches to increasing public engagement in the sciences, including a high school science summer program, the inclusion of quantum experiments in the classroom, and the development of quantum-focused summer research programs.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.