9307794 Nayfeh Technical Narrative: This project represents a collaborative research effort between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan. The project will focus on the preparation and characterization of the newly discovered but not yet understood optical activity of porous silicon using optical methods and scanning tunneling microscopy. Apart from the scientific interest in the mechanism behind its operation, there is interest in its potential applications in electronic devices. Thus this newly discovered property of silicon, a cheap semiconductor, may lead to the marriage of optical and electronic circuits. Project funding will enable the research teams from both universities to visit one another over the course of this three-year study. This project in materials research fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Jordan to combine complementary talents and conduct research in areas of strong mutual interest and competence. ***
