Advanced Materials Photonic Diagnostics
Abstract
Among the tools for scientific research, photonic spectroscopy plays a peculiar role. It covers crucially important tasks not only in physics of materials - which is the direct reason why are we asking funds for it - but also delivers valuable results in chemical, biological, pharmaceutical, environmental, counter-terrorist/homeland security, and many other areas. This list clearly indicates how widespread thrust to multidisciplinary educational research at Chapman University will be given by the requested photonic diagnostic tool, the FTIR spectrometer with Raman spectroscopy module. In our laboratory, interest to the materials research is strongly related to the search for novel superconducting materials. Superconductivity, during the last half-century, was at the frontiers of most demanding applications in science and technology. Moreover, it has not yet reached its culmination, and DoD can expect much more benefits from its advancement in the near future. Recently, a strong progress has been achieved by researchers in raising critical temperature of superconductors with materials containing carbon. In carbon-based materials, Chinese researchers reported superconductivity up to 120K in p-terphenyls. In another material, a single graphene layer immersed into n-heptane, Japanese group reported superconductivity (Meissner effect) up to room temperatures. These results are being repeated and further studied by other groups worldwide, including our lab. We currently hold three ONR research projects related tosuperconductivity; one more, larger collaborative project, will be submitted in response to the IARPA SuperCables BAA. These facts reflect how strong is the DOD interest to superco"nductivity. Our task is not ""just to participate"" in the world-wide superconductivity related activities. It is far more than that:" to deliver the best of possible to the DoD/US Navy. For that task, a photonic diagnostics of advanced materials is mandatory. The Bruker system, which we included into this proposal, has already been used to test our samples by our colleagues in Moscow. Extended spectroscopic abilities of this FTIR, down to THz range, allow researchers to see directly the superconducting energy gaps in the reflectancespectrum of materials. This is a fast and effective method of diagnostics, especially useful when the samples are small in volume, like a single graphene layer, additionally covered by liquid, so that it is not possible to arrange their measurement in conventional magnetometers. Very importantly, the FT-Raman extension of these spectrometers allows to get much deeper insight at understanding of mechanisms causing the observed phenomena: despite superconductivity is an electronic property, ionic lattice plays a crucial role in its occurrence. FT-Raman provides immediate characterization of lattice involvement into the physics of the electronic system. Thus,it is not surprising that this method is in use worldwide. Its absence in our lab constitutes an essential research gap.By the time of arrival of this photonic instrument, the newly established Chapman University Engineering School will start its activities, so that this instrument will be a big boost not only to our laboratory research, but also to the research-related education of hundreds of Chapman students. Overall, this acquisition will help us to much better serve the DoD needs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 25, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912265
Entities
People
- Armen Gulian
Organizations
- Chapman University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy