Arbitrary Fractional Quantization in Dirac Systems

This award supports research aimed at understanding a newly discovered form of wave quantization that can occur in materials and structures governed by Dirac physics. In conventional systems, waves can only fit inside a finite region according to simple integer-based rules, much like the standing waves on a guitar string. This project explores a fundamentally different regime in which arbitrary fractions of a wave can be confined, potentially leading to new ways of controlling light, electrons, and other wave phenomena. The work is expected to advance fundamental scientific knowledge while providing new opportunities for technologies that rely on highly coherent waves, including future photonic and semiconductor systems. The project will also support the education and training of undergraduate and graduate students and will engage high-school students through laboratory tours and STEM outreach activities. By expanding understanding of wave behavior in quantum and classical systems, the project contributes to the progress of science and to the long-term technological competitiveness of the United States. The project investigates arbitrary fractional quantization in finite Dirac systems through a combination of theoretical analysis, nanophotonic experiments, and semiconductor device studies. A generalized framework for quantization in Dirac media will be developed and used to predict unconventional wavefunctions that do not follow traditional integer quantization rules. These predictions will be tested experimentally to emulate Dirac-wave physics. The resulting wave states and their confinement properties will be characterized and compared with theory. The project will further examine how arbitrary fractional quantization can be exploited to improve coherence in semiconductor devices. Because Dirac-wave phenomena are increasingly important in quantum materials, photonics, and semiconductor technologies, the research may contribute to national priority areas including Quantum Information Science and advanced semiconductor and microelectronics research. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2608190 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Boubacar Kante | Institution: University of California-Berkeley, BERKELEY, CA | Award Amount: $675,000 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2608190 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2608190.html