2012 Boston University Physics Department
What are the Big Questions? Dept. of Energy BESAC Report (2007): Directing Boston UniversityMatter Slideshow Title and Goes Energy: Here Five Challenges for Science and the Imagination How do we control materials processes at the level of electrons? How do we design and perfect atom- and energy-efficient efficient synthesis of revolutionary new forms of matter with tailored properties? How do remarkable properties of matter emerge from complex correlations of the atomic or electronic constituents and how can we control those properties? How can we master energy and information on the nanoscale to create new technologies with capabilities rivaling those of living things? How do we characterize and control matter away especially very far away from equilibrium?
How do we control materials processes at the level of electrons? How can we master energy and information on the nanoscale to create new technologies with capabilities rivaling those of living things? Nanomechanical Devices Unique Capabilities Spin spin transport by nanomechanical detection of electron spin flip Flow chamber APL 97, 233 3702 (2010) Ion and protein sensors from Si nanowires Reversible computing with a nanomechanical gate
How do we design and perfect atom- and energy-efficient synthesis of revolutionary new forms of matter with tailored properties? p How do we characterize and control matter away especially very far away from equilibrium? ion direction Facility at National Synchrotron Light Source (Brookhaven National Lab) for real-time x-ray investigation of surface and thin film growth processes 1 (2011) PR RL 106, 06610 Si nanodots formed by ion bombardment GaN nanodots formed by nano-droplet epitaxy
How do we control materials processes at the level of electrons? How do remarkable properties of matter emerge from complex correlations of the atomic or electronic constituents and how can we control those properties? How do we characterize and control matter away especially very far away from equilibrium? Photoinduced Phase Transitions and Quasiparticle Dynamics in Complex Materials 2010) Nature Phys. 6, 639 (2
How can we master energy and information on the nanoscale to create new technologies with capabilities rivaling those of living things? Nan noletters 10, 6 (2010) Nanoscale Raman spectroscopy to investigate graphene Nanophotonics Studies of unique properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene brings 20 nm together groups from Physics and Electrical 300 nm Engineering
Why Choose Condensed Matter Experiment at Boston University? Diverse, active groups with interests ranging from basic to applied research Close interactions with complementary groups in Chemistry, Engineering, and the Medical School Opportunity for multidisciplinary research with faculty members in other departments with joint appointments in Physics (e.g. Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering) The Boston physics community possibly the world s largest History of student success
CME: Graphene Group 3/23/2012 Graphene sealed microchambers Phonon s strain response Strain dependence of thermal conductivity Pseudo magnetic fields 8
CME: Graphene Group 3/23/2012 What do CME grads do? Sample fabrication: Measure: Theory: Reading/understanding g relevant theory Fitting theory to data Simulations i New theory 9
Trustees Presentation 3/23/2012 Eye toward application: Unactivated Collaborations: Ruoff group at UT Austin Yacoby group at Harvard Weitz group at Harvard Released in oil, microchamber activated if P oil >P activation Activated Boston: Many Universities i i BostonAreaCarbOn Nanoscience Interlibrary loan a bike ride away Collaborations Good people Stuff to do (other than research) 10