Technical Narrative: This U.S.-Egypt collaborative research project involving the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Cairo University is in the general area of Si-SiGe heterostructures. Project funding will enable the team from Cairo University to work for various periods of time in the laboratory of Dr. Sean Washburn at UNC as well as the IBM Watson Research Center. Additionally, Dr. Washburn will spend one week visiting the laboratory of Dr. Khalid Ismail of Cairo University. The investigators will perform a series of transport experiments on small point contacts, lateral resonant tunneling devices, and interferometers. The proposed experiments will (1) extend the study of ballistic transport to new materials systems, (2) provide a broader base of experimental data to test theoretical predictions on ballistic transport, (3) provide the first system for experimental data for testing recent predictions of conductance quantization in one-dimensional Luttinger liquid, and (4) allow testing of new predictions for electrostatic interference effects. This project in materials research fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Egypt to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.
