CAREER: vdW isotope heterostructuring showcased in phononic light-matter interactions

非技术描述：元素同位素是具有不同质量的原子，因为它们具有相同数量的质子，但原子核中中子的数量不同。同位素存在于所有形式的材料和器件中，因此是材料性质的重要控制因素。本项目旨在开发一种创新的方法，通过制造具有各种同位素独特排列的纳米级多层结构来改变基本材料的响应。首席研究员展示了这种方法在控制原子和原子平面的振动以及它们与光的相互作用。在这个项目中展示的新材料反应可以用于广泛的应用，包括显微镜、计算机存储器和生物医学治疗。此外，该项目为本科生和研究生，特别是少数族裔提供了很好的培训机会，在纳米尺度下的光和波的实验和模拟，以及纳米材料制造。计划中的推广和夏季研究活动可以为K-12学生和高中教师提供实践研究经验和课程教学单元。技术描述：该项目的主要目标是通过设计范德瓦尔斯异质结构中的组成元素同位素来探索前所未有的材料特性。首席研究员计划通过最先进的范德华组装技术构建由各种单同位素组分组成的范德华异质结构，以建立优于当前同位素均质材料系统的进展。扫描探针纳米成像、纳米光谱学和拉曼光谱被用于研究这些异质结构中的传播声子极化子、声子动力学和层间声子。此外，为了深入了解实验观察结果，计划采用有限元法电磁学模拟和密度功能材料理论。这些努力可以揭示独特的电磁波行为，动态可调性，以及声子光-物质相互作用的记忆效应。本项目展示的异质结构原型可以进一步设计，以精细地控制纳米级能量密度、电磁波传播和光子密度的状态，用于生物传感、能量转移、红外光源和量子信息和技术的实际应用。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。

Nontechnical Description:Element isotopes are atoms with distinct masses since they have the same number of protons but differ in the number of neutrons in the nuclei. Isotopes exist in all forms of materials and devices and therefore are an important governing factor for material properties. This CAREER project aims to develop an innovative method to modify fundamental material responses by making nanometer-scale multilayer structures with unique arrangements of various isotopes. The principal investigator showcases this method in controlling the vibrations of atoms and atomic planes as well as their interactions with light. The new material responses demonstrated in this project can be used for a broad range of applications, including microscopy, computer memory, and biomedical treatment. In addition, this project offers excellent training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, especially the underrepresented minorities, on experiments and simulations of light and waves at the nanoscale, and nanomaterial fabrication. The planned outreach and summer research activities can provide K-12 students and high-school teachers with hands-on research experience and teaching units for their curriculum.Technical Description:The primary goal of this project is to explore unprecedented material properties by engineering the constituent element isotopes in van der Waals heterostructures. The principal investigator plans to build van der Waals heterostructures comprised of various monoisotopic components by the state-of-the-art van der Waals assembly technique, in order to establish advances over current isotope-homogenous material systems. Scanning probe nano-imaging, nano-spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy are used to investigate propagating phonon polaritons, phonon dynamics, and interlayer phonons in these heterostructures. In addition, finite element method electromagnetics simulation and density functional material theory are planned for a thorough understanding of the experimental observations. These efforts can reveal unique electromagnetic wave behaviors, dynamic tunability, and memory effects for phononic light-matter interactions. The prototype heterostructures demonstrated in this project can be further engineered to delicately control nanoscale energy density, electromagnetic wave propagation, and photonic density of states for practical applications in biosensing, energy transfer, infrared light sources, and quantum information and technologies.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.