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: 1555775
• 负责人: Roberto Ramos
• 金额: $ 6.69万
• 依托单位: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-08-15 至 2020-02-29
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1555775&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Probing; Energy; Gap; Clean; 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****该项目将研究多磁性超导体（例如二吡啶镁）（MGB2）和一些基于铁的超导体的超导能量差距中的子结构。能量差距是研究这些新型材料的关键特征，这些实验的结果可以帮助验证现有理论，提供新的数据，并有助于更好地理解差距分布在多层超导性中的作用。实验将涉及通过将样品冷却到低至非常低的（亚克尔文）温度以及使用数据采集的高分辨率技术，从而使高分辨率的隧道光谱范围成为可能。样本将由薄膜约瑟夫森连接处组成，这些连接是从几位合作者那里获得的，这些合作者是制造高质量样本的世界领导者。这项研究将在主要的本科机构进行，该机构正在迅速增长。该项目将支持对本科生和少数群体在文科环境中为妇女和少数群体开放的物理研究机会的培训，其中大多数学生都是妇女。超导体的能量间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。尽管许多超导体只有一个能隙，但这项研究将探测到非常高的分辨率，多磁性超导体（如二吡啶镁）和一些最近发现的铁基超导体的能量差距。通过使用非常干净的薄膜约瑟夫森连接器获得的研究合作者，这将成为可能，这些薄膜是从研究高质量样品制造的世界领导者的研究合作者那里获得的。 样品将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的数据，以更好地了解多范围的超导性。该项目支持在文科艺术环境中对固态物理学的大学生的教育和培训，其中64％的学生是女性。本科生将接受有关研究生研究或物理学和许多STEM领域工作所需的低噪声电子，低温和材料表征技巧的培训。此外，这项研究的教育组成部分使中学女孩成为了为期三天的夏季科学训练营。该营地旨在通过互动实验和现实世界物理学，角色扮演活动，实验室旅行和其他动手活动来增强对科学的兴趣。