Quantum Critical Phenomena and Non-Fermi-Liquid Physics

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0081075MillisThis grant supports the theoretical work of a distinguished, mid-career PI on stronglyCorrelated electron systems. The list of research projects in this grant includes (1)Disorder and Quantum Critical Phenomena, (2) High Temperature Superconductivity and(3) Nonequilibrium phenomena in highly correlated systems. The class of problems hereis frequently referred to as non-Fermi liquid effects. They lie beyond the edge ofunderstanding of electrons in metals offered by Landau's Fermi liquid theory. Theanomalies beyond the Fermi liquid theory include the large number ofthermodynamic/calorimetric results in rare-earth alloys, which are believed to be near a quantum critical point due to disorder. There are related effects in materials relevant forhigh-density magnetic memories and in relaxor ferroelectrics. There are nonequilibriumeffects such as the high temperature resistivity of high Tc copper oxides. The projectsinvolve analytical and numerical approaches along with close contact with relevantexperimental work.%%%The theoretical work supported in this grant comes from two themes in current research on materials. There are certain anomalies in the properties of electrons in metals, whichApparently lie outside the conventional paradigm, referred to as the Landau's theory ofmetals. They are caused by the presence of substantial disorder and or extremeenvironmental such as pressure, magnetic field or temperature. The work here isfundamental and far-reaching in that it may require development of sophisticated, newmathematical tools and at the same time it is motivated by a need to understand materialswhich are important for high density magnetic memories or materials which use theirferroelectric properties for memory applications. This work will be carried out in closecontact with experimentalists and will make use of both analytical and numericaltechniques, as may be necessary.***