Award Abstract # 0454540
Optical Spectroscopy of Electronic Matter Close to Quantum Criticality

NSF Org: DMR
Division Of Materials Research
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES
Initial Amendment Date: May 25, 2005
Latest Amendment Date: May 10, 2007
Award Number: 0454540
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Wendy W. Fuller-Mora
DMR
 Division Of Materials Research
MPS
 Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Start Date: June 1, 2005
End Date: May 31, 2008 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $360,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $360,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2005 = $120,000.00
FY 2006 = $120,000.00

FY 2007 = $120,000.00
History of Investigator:
  • George Gruner (Principal Investigator)
    ggruner@ucla.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of California-Los Angeles
10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700
LOS ANGELES
CA  US  90024-4200
(310)794-0102
Sponsor Congressional District: 36
Primary Place of Performance: University of California-Los Angeles
10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700
LOS ANGELES
CA  US  90024-4200
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
36
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): RN64EPNH8JC6
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
Primary Program Source: app-0105 
app-0106 

app-0107 
Program Reference Code(s): 9161, AMPP
Program Element Code(s): 171000
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.049

ABSTRACT

***NON-TECHNICAL***
In the vast majority of metals and semiconductors, such as copper and silicon, the behavior of electrons is well understood and is described by theories developed decades ago. The same is true for electronic devices, such as the transistor, built using such materials. The focus of this individual investigator research will be on materials where a change of composition or magnetic field leads to so-called "quantum phase transitions" between metallic, semiconducting and superconducting behavior. In the vicinity of such transitions, and also in molecular wires where the current flows in one dimension, new electron states arise. In order to gain insight into these new electron states the frequency dependent electrical conductivity will be measured in the microwave and millimeter wave range of the optical spectrum. Electronic devices having potentially new principles of operation and characteristics will also be fabricated using the same materials. The research will involve graduate and undergraduate students, who will be trained in both electronics and optics techniques.

***TECHNICAL***
This individual investigator research will focus on the behavior of electrons under circumstances where the change of composition or magnetic field leads to a quantum phase transition. The low energy electrodynamics of the disorder driven metal-insulator transition and the magnetic field driven superconductor-insulator transition will be investigated through the measurement of the low energy optical response in the dc to the millimeter wave spectral range. The frequency dependent optical conductivity will be evaluated and analyzed in terms of scaling relations. The unusual metallic state in molecular nanowires will be also investigated using the same experimental tools. Electronic devices will be fabricated using the same materials. A search for evidence of novel collective electron states will be undertaken through the examination of the device characteristics. Both graduate and undergraduate students will be involved in research and technique development in the spectral range of electromagnetic spectrum that has significant application potential.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Y. Zhou, L. Hu and G. Gruner "A method of printing carbon nanotube thin films" Applied Physics Letters , v.88 , 2006 , p.123109
Crane, R., Armitage, N. P., Johansson, A., Sambandamurthy, G., Shahar, D., and Gruner, G. "Survival of superconducting correlations across the two-dimensional superconductor-insulator transition: A finite-frequency study" Physical Review B , v.75 , 2007 , p.184530
David Hecht, Liangbing Hu, George Gruner "Conductivity scaling with bundle length and diameter in single walled carbon nanotube" Applied Physics Letters , v.89 , 2006 , p.133112
G. Gruner "Carbon Nanonets Spark New Electronics" Scientific American , v.296 , 2007 , p.76
G. Gruner "Carbon nanotube films for transparent and plastic electronics" Journal of Materials Chemistry , v.16 , 2006 , p.3533
Hua Xu, Steven M. Anlage, Liangbing Hu and George Gruner "Microwave shielding of transparent and conducting single-walled carbon nanotube films" Appl. Phys. Lett. , v.90 , 2007 , p.183119
M. Briman, K. Bradley, G. Gruner "Source of 1/f noise in carbon nanotube devices" Journal of Applied Physics , v.100 , 2006 , p.013505
R. W. Crane, N. P. Armitage, A. Johansson, G. Sambandamurthy, D. Shahar, and G. Gruner "Fluctuations, dissipation, and nonuniversal superfluid jumps in two-dimensional" Phys. Rev. B , v.75 , 2007 , p.094506

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