Imagine a patch of material an inch across – wide enough to handle – but only one atomic layer thick.
“It’s a simple concept, really,” said Paul Malinowski, a Klarman Fellow in physics in the College of Arts and Sciences. “You pull on it.”
Applying strain to atomically thin sheets of iron-based superconductors he synthesizes in the lab is one technique Malinowski is attempting to use to study the complex world of electron behavior in quantum materials. It’s simple in concept but complex in practice.
“Paul is a world expert at using mechanical strain to precisely manipulate the properties of materials, for instance, applying a small force to turn superconductivity ‘on’ and ‘off’ in a certain class of iron-based superconductors,” said Kyle Shen, the James A. Weeks Professor of Physical Sciences in physics and Malinowski’s faculty host. “We are hoping to apply the tools and techniques that Paul pioneered during his Ph.D. research [at the University of Washington] to a broader class of materials that we synthesize and study at Cornell.”
Hebu wazia kipande cha nyenzo chenye upana wa sentimeta moja - kina cha kutosha kushughulikia - lakini kina tabaka moja tu la atomu. "Ni dhana rahisi, kweli", alisema Paul Malinowski, Klarman Fellow katika fizikia katika Chuo cha Sanaa na Sayansi. "Kufanya kazi kwa kutumia nguvu kwenye karatasi nyembamba za chuma zinazotengenezwa katika maabara ni mbinu moja ambayo Malinowski anajaribu kutumia kujifunza ulimwengu tata wa tabia ya elektroni katika vifaa vya quantum. """ Ni rahisi katika dhana lakini tata katika mazoezi. "Paul ni mtaalamu wa ulimwengu katika kutumia mvutano wa mitambo kwa usahihi kudhibiti mali ya vifaa, kwa mfano, kutumia nguvu ndogo ya kugeuka superconductivity ""on"" na ""off"" katika darasa fulani la chuma-msingi superconductors, "alisema Kyle Shen, James A. Wiki Profesa wa Sayansi ya Fizikia katika fizikia na Malinowski's kitivo mwenyeji. "Tunatarajia kutumia zana na mbinu ambazo Paul alianzisha wakati wa utafiti wake wa PhD [katika Chuo Kikuu cha Washington] kwa darasa pana la vifaa ambavyo tunatengeneza na kujifunza huko Cornell. """