Zhao also serves as the technical contact for the scanning nitrogen-vacancy (NV) microscope at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), a DOE Office of Science user facility at ORNL. The NV microscope uses specially designed diamonds with a single nitrogen atom embedded next to a vacancy in the carbon lattice to measure extremely small magnetic fields. These probes can detect miniscule changes in the quantum spin of a material, allowing for some of the most precise electromagnetic measurements to date.
“Our scanning NV microscope is so sensitive that you can actually measure the tiny differences in the earth’s magnetic field at different locations in the lab,” Zhao added. These extremely precise measurements facilitate fundamental research across the physical and biological sciences.
Zhao’s educational background, subject matter expertise and diverse research interests and diverse research interests make him an excellent candidate for operating and iterating on NV microscopes. “I know how they work, I can optimize them, and I can build one from scratch instead of needing to buy a commercial one,” he says.
His background also enables efficient collaborations with the NV microscope’s users. “I have lots of users who collaborate with me and ask me to handle their samples because I have a background in materials, optics and semiconductors, microelectronics and so on,” Zhao said. “Most of my users are in these fields so I can easily understand what their research demands, which makes it easier to interact and to help them to take better measurements.”
Zhao credits his division director Karren More and three ORNL Distinguished Staff Fellowship mentors — An-Ping Li, Benjamin Lawrie, and Stephen Jesse — with supporting his successful transition from university research to work at a national lab.
“We have so many more resources and space here and we tackle much bigger problems, so collaboration is essential,” he says. “They have given me so many tips on developing my career here and so much advice on making the transition to being a national lab researcher.”
Outside of his professional endeavors, Zhao is an avid outdoor enthusiast, where he delights in the mechanics and sensations of biking, skiing and hiking. He is also a devoted parent to two adopted cats who happily keep each other company during his long hours at the lab.
Perhaps embodying the values instilled in him by his late grandfather, Zhao’s commitment to science is matched by his belief in the fundamental importance of education equity.
“While advancements in science and technology drive humanity’s progress, fundamental education is key to raising the baseline,” Zhao added. “It empowers ordinary individuals to live with greater convenience and dignity.”
ORNL’s Distinguished Staff Fellowship program aims to cultivate future scientific leaders by providing dedicated mentors, world-leading scientific resources and enriching research opportunities at a national laboratory. Fellowships are awarded to outstanding early-career scientists and engineers who demonstrate success within their academic, professional and technical areas. Fellowships are awarded for fundamental, experimental and computational sciences in a wide range of science areas. Factsheets about the fellows are available here.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. DOE’s Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit energy.gov/science. — Galen Fader
This Oak Ridge National Laboratory news article "Huan Zhao: Visualizing the quantum frontier" was originally found on https://www.ornl.gov/news
