Active LDRD Projects

The proposed research will initiate the development of new catalysis research infrastructure at SSRL consistent with both the SLAC and SSRL Strategic Plans. Specifically, we will design and implement a combined transmission Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS) in situ catalysis cell that is compatible with both the advanced spectroscopy beamline, 6-2/15-2, and the more traditional spectroscopy beamlines at SSRL.

Uwe Bergmann

Stimulated X-Ray Emission Spectroscopy – A Powerful New Tool To Study Metal Centers At Xfels

Lead Scientist: Uwe Bergmann

Transition metal complexes are at the center of a wide variety of catalytic reactions involved in biological systems and many important industrial processes. X-ray spectroscopy is a unique and powerful tool to study such catalytic centers and their reaction intermediates, because of its elemental selectivity and sensitivity to changes in the electronic and atomic structure of the metal complexes.

Charged Particle Beam Manipulation Using Cep-Stable Coherently Combined Discretely Polarized Laser Pulses

Lead Scientist: Sergio Carbajo

We propose an ultrafast laser source with programmable optical fields capable of driving novel photon-particle interactions. The baseline technology is coherent combination of carrier-envelope phase (CEP)-stable ultrafast fiber technology with individual polarization, phase, delay, and intensity control. The ability to govern the entire 4‑dimensional space of synthesized laser pulses opens a wide range of on-demand laser beam properties using a single source, such as programmable polarization and orbital momentum distribution, transverse mode profile, and pulse-front tilt, among many others.

Emergent Spintronics In Complex Oxide Heterostructures

Lead Scientist: Harold Hwang

Over the past decade, harnessing both spin and charge for spintronics has led to several breakthrough observations, including giant spin currents via spin pumping, the spin Hall effect, quantum spin/anomalous Hall effect, and long spin lifetimes in superconductors. These results are exciting both due to their fundamental new insights into transport processes in solids, and their potential for application in low-dissipation electronics. The majority of these spin-dependent phenomena rely on interactions at interfaces between diverse materials, where couplings often occur on the atomic scale. However, much of this work has used relatively simple materials components, with little command over their assembly.

Lead-Free Double Perovskites As Solar-Cell Absorbers

Lead Scientist: Hemamala Karunadasa

Despite the remarkable rise in efficiencies of solar cells containing the lead-halide perovskite absorber (CH₃NH₃)PbI₃, the toxicity of lead remains a primary concern for the large-scale implementation of this technology, particularly in light of the material’s water solubility. A nontoxic and stable material with similar photophysical properties to the lead-halide perovskites will constitute a major breakthrough in the solar-cell industry.

Multidimensional Interconnects

Lead Scientist: Chris Kenney

Most of the science performed at SLAC, throughout the DOE complex, and beyond is enabled by sophisticated electronic systems. Almost all of these electrical systems require interconnections among components and with the outside world for information and energy exchange. This proposal would develop the next generation of interconnects and assembly technology at SLAC by making use of the edges of semiconductor chips to extend systems into the third dimension.

All Active Projects for FY17

Lead Investigator	Title
Akerib, Daniel & Shutt, Tom	LUX/LZ Dark Matter Search
Bare, Simon	Development Of Combined Xafs/Ftir In Situ Cell For Insight Into Catalyst Function
Bargar, John	Molecular Basis of Ecosystems N Cycling: A strategic SLAC Biosciences Program
Bargar, John & Brown, Gordon	Real Time Control of Subsurface Fractures and Fluid Flow
Bergmann, Uwe	Stimulated X-Ray Emmission Spectroscopy-A Powerful New Tool To Study Metal Centers at Xfels
Carbajo, Sergio	Charged Particle Beam Manipulation Using Cep-Stable Coherently Combined Discretely Polarized Laser Pulses
Chueh, William	Electrochemical Heat Harvesting & Cooling
Fiuza, Frederico	Modeling Acceleration in Laser-Driven Shocks
Goldhaber-Gordon, David	Structural Characterization of Electrolyte and Polymer Gated Electronics to Better Control Device Properties
Hwang, Harold	Emergent Spintronics In Complex Oxide Heterostructures
Irwin, Kent	A Radio For Hidden Photon Dark Matter
Jaramillio, Tom	CO₂ to MEOH Conversion
Karunadasa, Hemamala	Lead-Free Double Perovskites As Solar-Cell Absorbers
Kenney, Chris	Multidimensional Interconnects
Lee, Wei-Sheng	Exploring the Scientific Capability of Momemtum-Resolved Resonant Inelastic Soft X-ray Scattering for Material Science Research
Lee, Young	Scattering Studies and Crystal Growth of Quantum Materials
Nanni, Emilio	Megawatt THz Optical Parametric Amplifier
Nordlund, Dennis	New Initiative for Pioneering Research in Biology, Chemistry, and Material Science with State-of-the-Art Soft X-ray Spectroscopy
Norskov, Jen	Beyond the Current Limitations of Water Spitting Catalysts
Spormann, Alfred	Integrated Electrochemical-Biological System for the Production of Fuels and Chemicals from CO₂
Tassone, Christopher	Accelerating Nanocrystal Synthetic Development
Vuckovic, Jelena	Quantum Optics and Biological Probes with Silicon Vacancies in CVD Grown Diamond

See LDRD Projects by Fiscal Year

FY 2017 FY 2016 FY 2015