Search for Novel Electronic State in Strongly Correlated Kondo Insulators

非技术摘要：在固体中，许多电子相互作用，导致有趣的现象。例如，在某些金属中，它们相互作用，使金属成为良好的绝缘体。电子之间的耦合可能具有拓扑性质，使材料的表面导电，同时保持内部整体绝缘。近藤绝缘体是一种基于稀土元素的固体材料，它的许多实验揭示了这种令人惊叹的特性。这项研究带来了丰富的新物理学，并为未来电子产品的材料开发带来了希望。这项研究进一步加深了稀土六硼化物的基础知识，并为未来的电子和磁性材料打开了新的大门。高导电性表面态在拓扑上受到保护，不受杂质的影响。因此，基于拓扑相的2D器件有望成为制造下一代纳米场效应晶体管的优良电子纳米材料，具有更快的运行速度、更低的功耗和更高的集成密度，有可能超过传统的硅基场效应晶体管的性能。这项建议的教育目标是向普通公众传授固体中电子相互作用的进展，并培养对该领域的兴奋、意识和兴趣。通过几种途径实现这一目标：1)让本科生参与研究；2)创造机会，促进妇女和少数群体融入科学和工程职业；3)向更广泛的公众宣传研究。更广泛的公众，特别是代表不足的群体，通过在密歇根大学的星期六早上物理的公开讲座，以及通过密歇根大学的明日科学计划向低收入地区的中学生进行公开示威和研讨会。技术摘要：研究的目标是调查强关联近藤绝缘体中量子振荡和朗道能级量子化的物理起源。利用扭矩磁学、电学和热电效应以及热输运性质的测量技术，主要研究人员旨在回答近藤绝缘体，特别是六硼化锶SmB6的以下三个具体问题：(1)量子振荡信号的维度是什么：二维还是三维？(2)量子振荡幅度在高温下是如何变化的-它是否遵循费米液体理论的Lifshitz Kosevich公式？(3)量子振荡存在于电传输性质中吗？振荡是电子的，还是完全电荷中性的？这些问题的答案提供了近藤绝缘体中量子振荡的整体图景。如果奇特的体电荷中性费米面确实存在，该研究解决了这种体态的热输运特征。从研究中获得的知识有助于了解近藤绝缘体的电子状态。这项研究解决了近藤绝缘体是没有泄漏体导的拓扑绝缘体还是具有电荷中性费米表面的电子绝缘体的争论。这两种情况都是凝聚态物理学的重大突破。

Non-Technical Abstract: In solids, many electrons interact among themselves leading to interesting phenomena. For example, in some metals they interact turning the metal into a good insulator. The coupling between electrons may have a topological property, making the material's surface conductive while keeping the inner bulk insulating. This amazing property is revealed by a number of experiments on Kondo insulators, a family of solid materials based on rare earth elements. The research leads to rich new physics and brings hope for developing materials for future electronics. The research furthers fundamental knowledge of rare earth hexaborides and opens new doors for future electronic and magnetic materials. The highly conductive surface states are topologically protected against impurities. As a result, 2D devices based on topological phases are expected to be able to serve as superior electronic nanomaterials for making next-generation nanoscale field-effect transistors, which have the potential to exceed the performance of conventional silicon-based field-effect transistors, with faster operation speed, lower power consumption, and higher integration density. The educational objective of this proposal is to teach the general public about advancements in electron interactions in solids and to develop excitement, awareness, and interest in the field. This objective is achieved through several avenues: 1) involving undergraduates in research; 2) creating opportunities to promote the integration of women and minorities in careers in science and engineering; and 3) communicating research to the broader public. The broader public, particularly underrepresented groups are reached by public lectures at University of Michigan's Saturday Morning Physics, and by public demonstrations and workshops to middle school students in low-income areas through the University of Michigan's Science for Tomorrow program.Technical Abstract: The objective of the research is to investigate the physical origin of the quantum oscillations and Landau Level quantizations in strongly correlated Kondo insulators. Using measurement techniques of torque magnetometry, electrical and thermoelectric effects, and thermal transport properties, the principal investigator aims to answer these 3 specific questions for Kondo insulators, especially for samarium hexaboride SmB6: (1) What is the dimensionality of the quantum oscillation signals: 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional? (2) How does the quantum oscillation amplitude change at elevated temperatures - does it follow the Lifshitz Kosevich formula from Fermi liquid theory or not? (3) Does quantum oscillation exist in electrical transport properties? Is the oscillation electronic, or completely charge-neutral? Answers to these questions provide the big picture of quantum oscillations in Kondo insulators. If exotic bulk charge-neutral Fermi surface indeed exists, the research resolves the thermal transport signatures of this bulk state. The knowledge obtained from the research sheds light on the electronic state of Kondo insulators. The research resolves the debate on whether Kondo insulators can be topological insulators with no leaky bulk conductance or an electronic insulator with charge-neutral Fermi surfaces. Either scenario is a significant breakthrough in condensed matter physics.