Achievement

One of the major goals of the IGERT program is to prevent student overspecialization, in part by familiarizing students with a wide range of experimental and computational techniques. Molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) is a technique for creating single crystals whose structure may be customized down to the level of individual atomic layers -- features key to making precise quantum wells and engineering bandstructures. Prof. Darrell Schlom presented a practical introduction to this technique to a wide range of students from across campus. This technique, which amounts to atomic spray painting in an ultra-empty vacuum environment, provides near-perfect structural control while at the same time achieving superb purity and crystalline perfection. This module provided a basic introduction to the technique, the underlying technology, and a practical guide to its use and limitations for tailoring materials. The module closed with an analysis of a number of case studies.