DURIP FTIR spectroscopy measurement system for cavity phononic quantum materials
Abstract
Publicly ReleasableQuantum materials represent complex quantum many-body systems, where the ground state physics has a sophisticated interplay of charge, spin, orbital, and lattice phonon degrees of freedom. Traditionally, researchers delve into quantum many-bodymaterial systems by tuning solids structural and electronic phases using strain engineering, electronic doping, and isotope substitution. Besides the static techniques, nonlinear phononics use mid-infrared and Terahertz (THz) light pulses to drive the infrared-active optical phonons with large amplitudes and dynamically distort the crystal structure on femtosecond timescales, enabling betterunderstanding and control of the remarkable quantum materials properties such as are ferroelectricity, ferromagnetism, or superconductivity. Recently, new theoretical proposals have suggested that cavity vacuum electromagnetic fluctuations can have strong interactions with phonons and thus control charges or spin configurations in quantum materials without actual light illumination. However, the solid experimental verifications of the cavity phononic quantum materials remain elusive. Funding is requested for equipment to build an infrared spectroscopy measurement system for this emergent frontier in the PI s laboratory at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Specifically, we will acquire a commercially available high-end vacuum FTIR spectrometer Bruker Vertex 80v which is capableof conducting zero-background high-sensitivity spectroscopy measurement, covering a frequency range from the THz up to the near-IR.We also propose purchasing four reflective objectives from Newport for interfacing the Bruker system with a home-built IR microscope setup. Lastly, vacuum adaptors of the Quantum Design s OptiCool cryostat side and top window are also requested to extend the FTIRmeasurement in the PI s lab further to a high magnetic field regime up to 7 Tesla. The DURIP will provide essential equipment for postdoc scholars and graduate and undergraduate students at RPI to perform research within the DoD s interest. Our work will be beneficial for a number of current and pending DoD research projects at RPI. The PI is ready to engage in multiple collaborations and is willing to make the new facilities available to researchers in these labs, thereby enhancing RPI s research infrastructure and capability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 13, 2025
- Source ID
- N000142512084
Entities
People
- Wei Bao
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- United States Navy