Monday, February 16, 2009 Joint Physics Colloquium, 4:30 PM, 104 Thaw Hall, PITT

Jeremy Levy

Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh

"Oxide Nanoelectronics On Demand"

Abstract:

Electronic confinement at nanoscale dimensions remains a central means of science and technology.  In this talk, I will describe a breakthrough that enables us to create extreme nanoscale electronic confinement at the interface between two normally insulating oxides, LaAlO3 and SrTiO3.  Using a conducting atomic-force-microscope probe, we can create nanoscale conducting islands, nanowires, tunnel junctions and field-effect transistors, all with spatial dimensions comparable to the diameter of a single-wall carbon nanotube (~2 nm).  These structures can be modified or erased without complex or irreversible lithographic procedures.  This new, on-demand nanoelectronics platform has the potential for widespread technological application.