Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Physics awarded $675,000 to the University of California, Berkeley under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) for a three-year project spanning July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. The award supports research into arbitrary fractional quantization in Dirac systems—a newly discovered wave quantization phenomenon that enables fractional waves to be confined within finite regions, departing from conventional integer-based quantization rules. The research deliverables include development of a generalized theoretical framework for quantization in Dirac media, experimental validation through nanophotonic studies and semiconductor device characterization, and characterization of unconventional wavefunctions that deviate from traditional quantization patterns.

In addition to advancing fundamental scientific knowledge of wave behavior in quantum and classical systems, the project delivers educational and workforce development outputs through undergraduate and graduate student training, high school laboratory tours, and STEM outreach activities. The research is expected to yield practical applications in photonic and semiconductor technologies by demonstrating how arbitrary fractional quantization can improve coherence in semiconductor devices. Findings from this project will contribute to U.S. technological competitiveness in quantum materials and next-generation photonic and semiconductor systems.