RII Track-4: Pressure Tuning of Magnetic Topological Insulators using Synchrotron X-ray Techniques

量子技术，如量子计算和自旋电子学，将量子力学性质转化为实际应用。加速这项技术的关键是了解新材料中受量子力学支配的基本物理性质。这个EPSCoR项目旨在开发一种新的实验方法，以促进对量子磁性材料的基本理解。具体地说，现代同步辐射X射线技术结合外压，一种可控的自由度，将被用来揭示新发现的材料中复杂而奇异的量子现象，这些材料包含了内在磁性和非平凡的电子结构。在这个项目中获得的微观洞察力将指导材料设计以实现所需的功能特性。这一支持将加强阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校(UAB)和阿贡国家实验室(ANL)高级光子源(APS)之间的合作。它使PI的团队能够充分接触到APS最先进的同步加速器设施，并开发新技术，扩大UAB的研究能力。这项拟议的研究的目标是揭开狄拉克费米子与磁性之间有趣的相互作用，并通过施加外部压力来揭示丰富的量子相。该研究将发展一种新的实验方法来研究磁序和非平凡拓扑的相互作用，并为新型量子材料的综合设计提供反馈。用压力作为调谐旋钮，将建立晶体结构和磁性的相互作用。该提案采用了一种综合实验方法，使用了最先进的同步加速器光谱、X射线衍射、传输和钻石砧座技术。系统地研究了两种模型磁性拓扑绝缘体EuSn2Pn2和EuMnBi2的磁学性质、输运性质和结构性质。这个EPSCoR项目将使Pi的研究小组能够在阿贡国家实验室(ANL)的高级光子源(APS)进行合作研究。这些活动将通过与ANL知名专家的广泛互动，提供关于前沿同步加速器技术的宝贵学习经验，从而促进下一代科学家的职业发展。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Quantum technology, such as quantum computing and spintronics, transitions quantum mechanical properties into practical applications. The key to accelerate this technology is to understand the fundamental physical properties governed by quantum mechanics in novel materials. This EPSCoR project aims to develop a new experimental approach to advance the fundamental understanding of quantum magnetic materials. Specifically, modern synchrotron X-ray techniques combined with external pressure, a controllable degree of freedom, will be used to reveal the complex and exotic quantum phenomena in newly discovered materials incorporating intrinsic magnetism with non-trivial electronic structure. The microscopic insights gained in this project will guide the material design for desired functional properties. This support will strengthen the collaborative efforts between University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Advanced Photon Source (APS) at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). It allows the PI’s group to gain full exposure to the state-of-the-art synchrotron facilities at APS and develop new technique that will expand the research capability at UAB. The goals of the proposed research are to unravel the intriguing interplay of magnetic properties with the Dirac fermions and reveal rich quantum phases by applying external pressure. The proposed research will develop a novel experimental approach to study the interplay of magnetic order and nontrivial topology and provide feedback to synthetic design of novel quantum materials. Using pressure as a tuning knob, interplay of crystal structure and magnetism will be established. The proposal adopts a combined experimental approach using the state-of-the-art synchrotron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transport, and diamond anvil cell technology. Magnetic, transport, and structural properties of two model magnetic topological insulators, EuSn2Pn2 and EuMnBi2 will be investigated systematically. This EPSCoR project will enable PI’s research group to perform collaborative research at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). These activities will offer invaluable learning experience on the frontier synchrotron techniques through extensive interactions with the well-established experts at ANL, thus promoting the career development of next-generation scientists.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.