This work aims to control quantum mechanical waves of electrons in space and time. Quantum mechanics is one the major discoveries of the last century and is now in the process of being developed into many areas of industry. Applications range from lasers and the global positioning system to nanotechnology. The technology the group is developing is aimed at constructing the largest electron interferometer in the world and the fastest electron switches ever made, which will give control of electron quantum mechanical waves. This control deepens our understanding of Quantum mechanics, and allows for the development of new applications.
A training ground for graduate and undergraduate students will continue to be provided in an area of national need. High school students are reached by the distribution of a ½ hour movie on quantum waves (distribution exceeds 10,000 copies). Electromagnetic field sensing (with the interferometer) and ultrafast time resolved electron microscopy (with fast electron switches) are explored and have potential for industrial application.
" has allowed us to do an experiment that Nobel Laureate Richard Feynman called impossible to do and stated that it has in it the "only mystery." We performed this experiment. We made an electron double slit at the nano-scale, recorded the electron diffraction pattern one at a time, and closed and opened the slits in a controlled way. This work demonstrates a fundamental quantum mechanical property and was also highlighted in a movie with a workbook made for and used by many high school students. The techniques needed to realize this work are designed by another part of our work. In this work we created the first three-nano-grating electron Talbot-Lau interferometer. This work was partly funded by the Honeywell Kansas City plant and we are exploring its use as a magnetometer. Magnetometers are used for detecting submerged submarines and it is thus important to try this new technology and find out what its capabilities are. This work is continuing today. On the pure scientific front our technologies provide understanding and new insights on the theory of Quantum Mechanics. We explained the relation between the Feynman paradox and the Aharonov-Bohm effect. The paradox appears to violate Newton's third law, while the Aharonov-Bohm effect, a corner stone of Quantum mechanics, is an effect without a force. The discussion of these very basic issues and deep connections leads to international invited talks (Japan, Germany) and collaborations (France), which in turn provides for an exciting international scientific environment for students. Our group has in the three year funding period provided training for one postdoc, five graduate students, and ten undergraduate students. This training includes intense hands-on work in a high-tech lab, that involves work with state-of the art electronics, vacuum, and laser technology. It also includes the writing of technical and scientific documents, presenting work at local and national meetings. The postdoc became a staff member of Oak ridge National Lab, three of the graduate students obtained the Ph.D. and were immediately employed following their graduation. The other two, more junior, graduate students are continuing their work, while the undergraduate students are all continuing in their technical careers. The NSF grant has also stimulated the principal investigator to organize and run a summer research program with participation from 25 local high school students. This program included six weeks of research done in the Physics department of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and one week of hands-on group activities. In summary, we are excited to report that this award provided education and outreach from the highschool to Ph.D. level, led to scientific progress in the fundamental understanding of one of our most widely used theories, that is, quantum mechanics, and develops nano-technology that is explored for practical use.
