RUI: Probing the Energy Gap of Clean Magnesium Diboride using High Resolution Tunneling Spectroscopy

RUI：利用高分辨率隧道光谱探测清洁二硼化镁的能隙

• 批准号: 1206561
• 负责人: Roberto Ramos
• 金额: $ 23万
• 依托单位: Indiana Wesleyan University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2015-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1206561&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Probing; Energy; Gap; Clean

****TECHNICAL ABSTRACT****This project will investigate sub-structure in the superconducting energy gap of very clean samples of multi-gapped superconductors such as magnesium diboride (MgB2) and some iron-based superconductors. The energy gap is a key feature in the study of these novel materials and the results of these experiments can help validate existing theories, provide new data, and contribute to a better understanding of the role of gap distribution in multi-gapped superconductivity. Experiments will involve high-resolution tunneling spectroscopy made possible by cooling samples to low to very low (sub-Kelvin) temperatures and using high-resolution techniques of data acquisition. Samples will consist of thin film Josephson junctions to be obtained from several collaborators who are world leaders in the fabrication of high-quality samples. This research will be carried out at a primarily undergraduate institution, where undergraduate research is rapidly growing. This project will support the training of undergraduate and pre-college students and open physics research opportunities for women and minorities in a liberal arts environment where majority of students are women.****NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACT****This project supports the experimental study of superconductors in a primarily undergraduate institution. The energy gap of a superconductor is an important property that enables us to better understand and apply these novel materials. While many superconductors have only a single energy gap, this research will probe, to very high resolution, the energy gap of multi-gapped superconductors such as magnesium diboride and some of the recently-discovered iron-based superconductors. This will be made possible by using very clean thin film Josephson junctions obtained from research collaborators who are world leaders in the fabrication of high-quality samples. The samples will be cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero and probed using tunneling spectroscopy and high-resolution data acquisition techniques. The results will help validate existing theories and provide new data to better understand multi-gapped superconductivity. This project supports the education and training of undergraduates in solid-state physics in a liberal arts setting where sixty-four percent of students are women. Undergraduates will receive training in low-noise electronics, cryogenics, and materials characterization skills needed for graduate studies or work in physics and many STEM fields. Furthermore, the educational component of this research makes possible a three-day summer science camp for middle school girls. The camp is designed to enhance the interest in science through interactive experiments and demonstrations of real-world physics, role-playing activities, laboratory tours, and other hands-on activities.

****技术摘要****该项目将研究非常干净的多能隙超导体样品（例如二硼化镁（MgB2）和一些铁基超导体）的超导能隙中的子结构。能隙是这些新型材料研究的一个关键特征，这些实验的结果可以帮助验证现有理论，提供新数据，并有助于更好地理解能隙分布在多能隙超导中的作用。实验将涉及高分辨率隧道光谱，通过将样品冷却到低至极低（亚开尔文）温度并使用高分辨率数据采集技术来实现。样品将由薄膜约瑟夫森结组成，这些样品是从几个合作者那里获得的，这些合作者是高质量样品制造的世界领先者。这项研究将在一个主要是本科生的机构中进行，该机构的本科生研究正在迅速增长。该项目将支持本科生和预科生的培训，并在大多数学生是女性的文科环境中为女性和少数族裔开放物理研究机会。****非技术摘要****该项目支持在本科院校中进行超导体实验研究。超导体的能隙是一个重要的特性，使我们能够更好地理解和应用这些新型材料。虽然许多超导体只有一个能隙，但这项研究将以非常高的分辨率探测多能隙超导体（例如二硼化镁和一些最近发现的铁基超导体）的能隙。这将通过使用从研究合作者那里获得的非常干净的薄膜约瑟夫森结来实现，这些合作者是制造高质量样品的世界领先者。 样品将被冷却至接近绝对零的温度，并使用隧道光谱和高分辨率数据采集技术进行探测。结果将有助于验证现有理论并提供新数据以更好地理解多能隙超导性。该项目支持在文科环境中对固态物理学本科生进行教育和培训，其中 64% 的学生是女性。本科生将接受研究生学习或物理学和许多 STEM 领域工作所需的低噪声电子学、低温学和材料表征技能方面的培训。此外，这项研究的教育部分使得为中学生举办为期三天的夏季科学营成为可能。该夏令营旨在通过互动实验和真实物理演示、角色扮演活动、实验室参观和其他实践活动来增强人们对科学的兴趣。