CAREER: Emergent Quantum Spin-Liquid in Yb-Pyrochlores and Yb-Spinels

在凝聚态物质的著名奇异相中，最近特别令人感兴趣的是量子自旋液体（QSL）。人们普遍认为，极端的量子纠缠和几何挫折导致了QSL的定义属性：强自旋相关，不存在静态磁矩，以及完整的晶体对称性。尽管对QSL的深入研究，QSL状态的各种扰动，如化学压力，网站无序，和额外的磁相互作用的响应，还没有得到彻底的研究。此外，QSL研究的一个主要障碍是缺乏实例。该奖项支持的实验方法，研究的Yb 3+离子的局部结构变化之间的相关性和两个扰动效应的QSL状态在不同的Yb-辉石和各种Yb-尖晶石的奇异磁性。在这两种情况下，几何阻挫角共享四面体Yb 3+网络强烈影响它们的磁性。研究人员将合成和生长新的Yb-辉石和新的Yb-尖晶石晶体，并研究两个重要的物理方面：（i）通过使用交流磁化率测量和中子散射来研究其磁基态的性质;（ii）通过使用对分布函数技术来研究Yb 3+磁性离子的局部结构变化。该计划将培养两名研究生;旨在吸引本科生和高中生，特别是少数民族学生，激励和接触科学和技术的真实的世界。这将与田纳西大学的教育高级计划（EAP）和田纳西州路易斯斯托克斯少数民族参与联盟（TLSAMP）计划合作实现。研究人员还将提供晶体，并为更广泛的科学界提供培训学生晶体生长和晶体加工的服务。非技术摘要对量子物质物理性质的理解一直处于现代凝聚态物理研究的前沿。最近的一个例子是量子自旋液体（QSL）：一种具有强自旋相关性但没有静态磁序的独特状态。磁性原子的几何排列阻止它们引导它们的磁矩，材料被磁挫。QSL的奇异性质只出现在极低的温度下，并且预计对各种扰动敏感。此外，QSL研究的一个主要障碍是缺乏实例。该计划将探索新的QSL材料，并研究微扰对它们的影响。QSL候选物的单晶将在研究人员的实验室中生长，然后在低温和高磁场下通过各种方法进行研究。该方案将培养两名研究生;旨在吸引本科生和高中生，特别是少数民族学生，激励他们接触真实的科学和技术世界。这将与田纳西大学的教育高级计划（EAP）和田纳西州路易斯斯托克斯少数民族参与联盟（TLSAMP）计划合作实现。研究人员还将提供晶体，并为更广泛的科学界提供晶体生长和晶体加工方面的培训学生服务。

Technical AbstractAmongst the celebrated exotic phases of condensed matter, of particular recent interest are the quantum spin liquids (QSLs). It is widely believed that extreme quantum entanglement and geometrical frustration lead to QSLs' defining properties: strong spin correlations, the absence of static magnetic moments, and unbroken crystalline symmetry. Despite the intensive studies on QSLs, the response of the QSL state to various perturbations, such as chemical pressure, site disorder, and extra magnetic interactions, has not been thoroughly studied. Moreover, one main obstacle for QSL studies is the shortage of the examples. This award supports an experimental approach for studying the correlations between the local structural variations of the Yb3+ ions and both the perturbation effects on the QSL state in different Yb-pyrochlores and the exotic magnetism of various Yb-spinels. In both cases the geometrically frustrated corner-shared tetrahedral Yb3+-network strongly influences their magnetic properties. The investigator will synthesize, and grow crystals of new Yb-pyrochlores and new Yb-spinels and study two important physical aspects: (i) the nature of their magnetic ground states by using AC susceptibility measurements and neutron scattering; (ii) the local structural variations of the Yb3+ magnetic ions by using the pair distribution function technique. The program will train two graduate students; and aims to attract undergraduate and high school students, particularly minority students, to motivate and expose to the real world of science and technology. This will be acheived in collaboration with the Educational Advanced Program (EAP) and the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) program at the University of Tennessee. The investigator will also provide crystals and offer services for training students on crystal growth and crystal processing to a broader scientific community.Non-Technical AbstractThe understandings of the physical properties of quantum matters have been at the forefront of modern condensed matter physics research. One recent example is quantum spin liquids (QSLs): a unique state with strong spin correlations but without static magnetic order. The geometrical arrangements of the magnetic atoms prevent them to direct their magnetic moment, the materials are magnetically frustrated. The exotic properties of QSLs appear only at extremely low temperatures, and are expected to be sensitive to various perturbations. Moreover, one main obstacle for QSL studies is the shortage of examples. This program will explore new QSL materials and study the perturbation effects on them. Single crystals of the QSL candidates will be grown in the investigator's laboratory and then will be studied by various methods under low temperatures and high magnetic fields. The program will train two graduate students; and aims to attract undergraduate and high school students, particularly minority students, to motivate and expose them to the real world of science and technology. This will be acheived in collaboration with the Educational Advanced Program (EAP) and the Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TLSAMP) program at the University of Tennessee. The investigator will also provide crystals and offer services for training students on crystal growth and crystal processing to a broader scientific community.