NSF-BSF: Development and Study of Lattice-Derived Flat Band States

非技术摘要：虽然许多传统金属的电子性质可以理解为孤立的，携带电荷的电子的性质所产生的，几个最根本的有趣和潜在的技术变革的材料是超越了这一范式。 这种所谓的相关电子材料可以拥有超越基本预测范式的涌现量子特性，例如高温超导性。 为了寻找和开发新的相关材料，最近重新审视的一个设计原理是创建弱分散（平坦）电子能带。 在这样的频带中的电子彼此强烈影响，并且可以为电子相关提供自然的平台。 该项目旨在基于该研究领域的最新进展，以目标，合成和研究基于平坦电子带的强相互作用效应的特定材料。 本研究计划的更广泛影响包括：（1）通过基础科学创新对社会的潜在影响，包括基于平带超导体和新自旋液体材料的量子技术新平台;（2）通过公众参与讲座，可视化和在线内容，对公众进行量子科学和量子技术主题的教育;（3）URM学生通过本科生研究项目参与HBCU;（4）通过与魏茨曼科学研究所凝聚态物理学的独特能力建立合作伙伴关系，增加美国的竞争优势。技术摘要：可以容纳扁平电子带的材料系统已经被提出来容纳奇异的电子行为。 这种行为源于平带态的淬灭动能，它促进了电子之间的相互作用。 这样的平坦带也可以承载拓扑上非平凡的状态，允许相关性和拓扑的潜在平台。 然而，在真实的材料中能够实现足够平坦的能量分散的程度仍然是一个悬而未决的问题。 该项目的重点是新的平带材料的合成和研究，重点是新的相关拓扑相，近藤行为，并连接到自旋液体物理。 这项研究的一个关键要素是目标材料合成和先进光谱之间的密切反馈，以允许平带态的检测和晶体工程。 我们的努力将与研究和教育工作相吻合，重点是本科生努力开发新的测量技术，创造量子概念的可视化以提高量子直觉，以及量子科学教育/推广/URM招募工作。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Non-Technical Abstract:While the electronic properties of many conventional metals can be understood as arising from the properties of isolated, charge-carrying electrons, several of the most fundamentally interesting and potentially technologically transformative materials are beyond this paradigm. Such so-called correlated electron materials can host emergent quantum properties such as high temperature superconductivity that are beyond basic predictive paradigms. To find and develop new correlated materials, one recently revisited design principle is the creation of weakly dispersing (flat) electron energy bands. Electrons in such bands are strongly influenced by each other and can offer a natural platform for electronic correlation. This project aims to build on recent progress in this research area to target, synthesize, and study specific materials designed to have strong interaction effects based on flat electronic bands. The broader impacts of the present research program include (1) Potential impact on society through fundamental science innovations including new platforms for quantum technology based on flatband superconductors and new spin liquid materials; (2) Education of the public in topics in quantum science and quantum technology through public engagement with lectures, visualizations, and online content; (3) Engagement of URM students targeted at HBCUs via undergraduate research projects; (4) Increasing the competitive advantage of the USA with partnership of this project with unique capabilities for condensed matter physics at the Weizmann Institute of Science.Technical Abstract:Material systems which can host flat electronic bands have been proposed to host exotic electronic behavior. Such behavior arises from the quenched kinetic energy of flat band states that promotes interaction between electrons. Such flat bands can also host topologically non-trivial states, allowing for potential platforms for both correlation and topology. However, the extent to which sufficiently flat energy dispersions can be realized in real materials has remained an open question. This project focuses on the synthesis and study of new flat band materials with a focus on new correlated topological phases, Kondo behavior, and connections to spin liquid physics. A key element of this research is a close feedback between targeted material synthesis and advanced spectroscopy to allow for detection and crystal engineering of flat band states. Our efforts will dovetail with research and educational efforts focused on undergraduate efforts to develop novel measurement techniques, creation of visualizations of quantum concepts to improve quantum intuition, and quantum science education/outreach/URM recruitment efforts.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.