Studying dynamic control of quantum heterostructure interfaces with strain pulses

这个拟议的项目启动了INRS-EMT的Kenneth Beyerlein教授和康奈尔大学的Ankit Disa教授之间的合作，以探索量子界面的动态性质。量子界面可以表现出新的电子态，例如超导电性，这是这两种材料中都没有的。像分子束外延这样的精密薄膜制备方法可以将各种材料聚集在一起，以调整材料之间的相互作用，并实现多种关联状态。拟议的项目采取了下一步，探索如何通过激发其中一种材料的原子或电子结构来动态调整相互作用。这在很大程度上是一种未被探索的界面控制方法，它可能导致在平衡状态下无法实现的新量子态。具体地说，我们试图使用超快透射电子显微镜测量来研究应变脉冲从MgO衬底传播到BaTiO3薄膜如何影响界面附近的铁电秩序。请拨资金以支付与这项实验的人事费、旅费和使用费有关的费用。这是一项合作的开始，目标是定义新的和有趣的方向，以实现和表征功能量子材料。

The proposed project initiates a collaboration between Prof. Kenneth Beyerlein of INRS-EMT and Prof. Ankit Disa of Cornell University, to explore the dynamic properties of quantum interfaces. Quantum interfaces can exhibit novel electronic states, such as superconductivity, which are not found in either material individually. Precision thin film fabrication methods like molecular beam epitaxy can bring together a wide range of materials to tune the interaction of materials across such boundaries and realize a multitude of correlated states. The proposed project takes the next step by exploring how the interaction can also be tuned dynamically by exciting the atomic or electronic structure of one of the materials. This is a largely unexplored avenue of interfacial control, which can lead to new quantum states that are not realizable in equilibrium. Specifically, we seek to use ultrafast transmission electron microscopy measurements to study how strain pulses travelling from a MgO substrate to a BaTiO3 film influence the ferroelectric order near the interface. Funds are requested to cover fees associated with the personnel, travel and user fees of this experiment. This is the beginning of a collaboration that has the goal to define new and interesting directions to realize and characterize functional quantum materials.