Electron Counting for Quantum Measurements in Semiconductor Nanostructures

1. REU Site: Program in Nanomaterials and NanotechnologyIan Baker and Joe BelBruno, Dartmouth College,DMR-0451425 Ten undergraduate students were recruited nationwide in 2005 for an eight-week summer research experience in the following projects on the forefront of nanomaterials research: Bulk FeCO nanocrystals Nanocrystalline FeCo was prepared by mechanical attrition and compacted, then compared to conventionally-produced, commercial FeCo alloys for potential power applications. Electromagnetic Nanomaterials Optical amplification of holey fibers filled with dyes and quantum dots were measured . Metal Nanoparticle/Block Compolymer Composites Block copolymers were used as templates to form ordered arrays, precursors of metal nanoparticles -formed by reduction or heating. Nanomaterials from block copolymers Alkyne-functional polymers were prepared as precursors to polymer-stabilized cobalt nanoparticles. Damping in Nanomechanical Resonators Nanomechanical resonators have shown great promise for ultrasensitive metrology. We made inroads into understanding clamping loss, a mechanism for damping, using a FEMLAB software package. Electron Counting for Quantum Measurements in Semiconductor Nanostructures Motion of individual electrons in semiconductor nanostructures were studied using a radio-frequency single-electron transistor (RF-SET). Nanocomposite Magnetic Films in Microfabricated Inductors New nano-materials and processes to make high-performance on-chip inductors for power applications were fabricated and characterized. Nanostructured Materials for Electromagnetic Engineering Theoretical research was performed on nanostructured coaxial resonators. Surface Enhancements for Fabricated Micro-Robots A number of surface preparations for the magnetic alignment of molecules in solution were tested.

2. REU Site: Program in Nanomaterials and NanotechnologyIan Baker and Joe BelBruno, Dartmouth College,DMR-0451425 Ten undergraduate students were recruited nationwide in 2005 for an nine week summer research experience in the beautiful environs of a New England college town to participate in either experimental or theoretical investigations of materials' properties at the forefront of nanomaterials research. Projects were completed under the mentorship of faculty in Chemistry, Physics and Engineering, who work closely with the undergraduate students to help them accomplish their research goals, to learn how to communicate their results orally and in writing, and to help them develop as responsible scholars. In addition to participating in individual research projects, REU students attended weekly group presentations, a mini-course in Ethics, and participated in scientific field trips to the Cold Regions Laboratory of the Army Corps of Engineers and to Hypertherm, a leader in plasma cutting technology, where students view materials research in the "real world". Support for the program is provided by the DoD ASSURE program and NSF. This is the 7th year for the Dartmouth College REU site. Initially in operation since 1999 with the theme of Molecular Materials, it has gradually evolved into the broader area of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology. L to R: Bryan Davis, Bart Butler, David Kopp, Paul Robinson II, Stavros Moysidis, Udoka Uzoka, Sean Haggerty, Jason Wang, Thomas Werne, Lindsey Saunders