| Posted: February 19, 2010 |
NSF award to help explore quantum states in semiconductor nanostructures |
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(Nanowerk News) Michigan State University physics assistant professor Chih-Wei Lai has received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Award for work which may allow for the development of new quantum materials and optoelectronic devices for improved computation and communication.
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CAREER awards are one of the NSF’s most prestigious and competitive awards for junior researchers. They recognize those who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research.
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As a part of the five-year, $550,000 award, Lai is developing a summer workshop to introduce graduate students to the research environment and to learn optical methods for studying condensed matter systems. Lai is also introducing hands-on experiments about optics in daily life to high school teachers, K-12 students, and underrepresented pre-college students.
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Lai is the Jerry Cowen Endowed Chair in Experimental Physics at MSU. He will use the grant to explore collective quantum states emerged from light-matter interaction in semiconductor nanostructures
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“Groups of electrons behave differently than a single electron because they interact with each other,” Lai said. “Predicting material properties becomes difficult when a huge number of electrons interact at a quantum level. Studying the interactions and resultant collective phenomena will allow physicists to better predict how these complex systems function.”
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To view Lai’s abstract and details on the Quantum Optical Measurements of Exciton Fluids in Confined Systems award, visit the Web at www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=0955944
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