Nominator's project description
| Dr. Kirtley has recognized the need for a technique to microscopically image magnetic fields generated in advanced electronic systems. He is a pioneer in the field of imaging the magnetic behavior of electronic systems with utmost sensitivity to magnetic fields. Dr. Kirtley has developed scanning SQUID microscopy into a highly useful and reliable analytical tool to map and analyze minute magnetic fields. Pushing this microscopy to an outstanding field sensitivity and low noise level, he has been able to investigate and clarify a broad spectrum of phenomena in solid state science. His seminal imaging of half magnetic flux quanta generated by tricrystalline superconducting rings has led to the understanding that the superconducting condensate in these materials is d-wave symmetric. Due to his work, the d-wave symmetry of the superconducting electronic systems has been recognized as an essential property of these materials. This unconventional symmetry is now taken into account in designing almost all experiments performed to study the fundamental properties of high-Tc superconductors. The d-wave symmetry is also critical for applications of the high-Tc superconductors, such as electronic devices and even cables for power transmission. Dr. Kirtley is planning to extend the range of magnetic microscopy to even higher spatial resolution by combining conventional magnetic force techniques with a unique low temperature scanning force microscopy system that has been built at the University of Augsburg. The planned experiments aim to discover novel magnetic phenomena and promise an improved understanding of complex electronic materials. |
