EPSRC Reference: |
GR/K76078/01 |
Title: |
OPTICAL TUNNELLING AT 80K IN APPLIED AND FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES OF PTSI AND YBCO |
Principal Investigator: |
Dawson, Dr P |
Other Investigators: |
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Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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Project Partners: |
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Department: |
Sch of Mathematics and Physics |
Organisation: |
Queen's University of Belfast |
Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
Starts: |
17 June 1996 |
Ends: |
16 July 1999 |
Value (£): |
201,179
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EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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Related Grants: |
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Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
The optical morphological and composition properties of thin films of PtSi and YBCO will be investigated using, severally, surface plasmon (SP) resonance, atomic force microscopy and ion beam analysis. The understanding of film properties, particularly electron-phonon scattering as a function of temperature and the effect of surface scattering on the film dielectric response function is of basic importance to the improvement of film quality. Additional, important issues which will be addressed include inhomogeneities in PtSi/Si Schottky diodes (I-V-T analysis and localised optical probing will be used) and anisotropy in YBCO films (both experimental and theoretical studies will be pursued). Experimentally the principal effort will go into the construction of low temperature, UHV prism couplers for the optical excitation of SP resonances. The optical measurements will mostly be conducted at ~80K and a wavelength of 3.39 mm. This temperature/wavelength combination is directly relevant to the operation of PtSi imaging arrays and, in addition to facilitating the acquisition of useful data on YBCO, will serve as an excellent platform for mastering the experimental techniques pertinent to far IR studies where more fundamental information on the nature of the superconducting band gap can be extracted.
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Key Findings |
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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Impacts |
Description |
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Summary |
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Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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Project URL: |
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Further Information: |
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Organisation Website: |
http://www.qub.ac.uk |