Acquisition of a SQUID Magnetometer for Research and Education in Magnetic Materials

购买 SQUID 磁力计用于磁性材料的研究和教育

• 批准号: 0315326
• 负责人: Christopher Leighton
• 金额: $ 18.46万
• 依托单位: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-08-15 至 2004-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0315326&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Acquisition; SQUID; Magnetometer; Research; Education

This grant supports the purchase of a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer. The instrument satisfies the current need for a versatile magnetometer that will be used by four groups within the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (CEMS). The instrument will be employed in an array of projects including magnetic characterization of novel magnetic thin films and heterostructures, magnetic semiconductors, molecular solids, and magnetic nanostructures. This research is on structures that incorporate magnetic materials of many types, from organic magnets to conventional semiconductor and ferromagnetic metals, in a variety of configurations (magnetic semiconductor nanoparticles, single crystals and thin film heterostructures). It is this kind of engineering, where magnetic materials are incorporated into novel device structures, which has been so successful in terms of yielding useful magnetic devices such as Giant MagnetoResistance (GMR) multilayers, spin-valves, tunnel junction based Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM) and integrated magnetic metal/semiconductor structures. The intention here is to acquire a workhorse instrument that elevates magnetic characterization capabilities to the level of the materials fabrication and characterization expertise at CEMS, while simultaneously strengthening teaching and education in this area. This is essential to the challenging work of developing materials for spin-electronic devices of the future. The broader impact of the proposed work lies primarily in the education and training of students in the interdisciplinary field of magnetic materials, an area in which the basic experimental skills are highly sought-after in many fields. These researchers will be from both Chemical Engineering and Materials Science programs at the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels. In particular, undergraduate students will become actively involved with the research by taking advantage of the UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program) and REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) programs.

这笔赠款支持购买超导量子干涉装置（SQUID）磁力计。该仪器满足了当前对多功能磁力计的需求，化学工程和材料科学系 (CEMS) 内的四个小组将使用该磁力计。该仪器将用于一系列项目，包括新型磁性薄膜和异质结构、磁性半导体、分子固体和磁性纳米结构的磁性表征。这项研究的结构包含多种类型的磁性材料，从有机磁体到传统的半导体和铁磁金属，具有多种配置（磁性半导体纳米颗粒、单晶和薄膜异质结构）。正是这种将磁性材料融入新型器件结构的工程，在生产有用的磁性器件方面取得了如此成功，例如巨磁阻 (GMR) 多层、自旋阀、基于隧道结的磁性随机存取存储器 ( MRAM）和集成磁性金属/半导体结构。这里的目的是获得一台主力仪器，将磁性表征能力提升到 CEMS 的材料制造和表征专业水平，同时加强该领域的教学和教育。这对于开发未来自旋电子器件材料的挑战性工作至关重要。拟议工作的更广泛影响主要在于对磁性材料跨学科领域的学生进行教育和培训，在该领域，基本实验技能在许多领域都备受追捧。这些研究人员将来自本科生、研究生和研究生级别的化学工程和材料科学项目。特别是，本科生将通过UROP（本科生研究机会计划）和REU（本科生研究经验）计划积极参与研究。