Sparse Big Data Spectromicroscopy on Magnetic Quantum Materials

同步加速器X射线设备上的光谱学通常用于观察材料内部电子的量子态，并且可以为量子科学和技术提供关键的见解。在过去的十年中，新一代的同步加速器技术已经开始大大提高聚焦X射线束到微观尺度的能力。 这使得测量被称为“光谱显微镜”，并且可以通过排除测量区域之外发生的任何结构或化学变化来提供更清晰的电子状态图像。 在这些研究中，研究小组正在应用光谱显微镜来揭示结构复杂的量子材料中的电子态，这些材料具有奇异的磁性，可能用于先进的信息技术。 传统的光谱测量只关注材料上的一个或两个点，而这项研究开发了新的能力，可以快速测量样品表面大片区域中自然发生的区域差异。 这些变化进行了分析，以更好地了解如何功能材料的性能可以控制，如果你改变化学成分或材料的生长procedure.Technical AbstractRecent进展光源技术正在推动全球发展的光束线高度集中的微米和100纳米尺度的光束点。 该项目使用光谱显微镜实现角分辨光电发射和共振非弹性X射线散射技术，以揭示选定的磁量子材料内感兴趣的核心特性的电子结构。 特别关注的情况下，提出了挑战，上一代的光谱仪，如选择拓扑有序的材料，将磁性元素。 实现这一雄心勃勃的目标的一个关键因素是使用和进一步开发一套技术，用于分析来自测量的稀疏大数据集，其中光束在样品表面上快速光栅化，同时记录空间分辨光谱。 这种方法同时最大限度地减少了光束损伤，并使其有可能目录的区域变化的电子结构，以确定非平凡的相互作用的现象所造成的量子杂化和强相关性。 为解决这些分析挑战而创建的算法和软件可供更广泛的光谱学社区使用。 先进材料的研究活动与当地K-12学生的设施图尔斯和其他外展活动相结合。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical AbstractSpectroscopy at synchrotron X-ray facilities is often used to observe the quantum states of electrons inside materials, and can yield critical insights for quantum science and technology. Over the last decade, a new generation of synchrotron technology has begun to greatly increase capabilities for focusing X-ray beams down to microscopic scales. The measurements this enables are termed ‘spectromicroscopy’, and can give far clearer images of electronic states by excluding any structural or chemical variation that occurs outside the measurement area. In these investigations, the research team is applying spectromicroscopy to uncover the electronic states within structurally complex quantum materials that feature exotic magnetic properties and may be of use for advanced information technologies. Whereas traditional spectroscopy measurements look at just one or two spots on a material, this research develops new capabilities to rapidly survey naturally occurring regional differences across large patches of the sample surface. These variations are analyzed to better understand the big picture of how functional material properties can be controlled if you change the chemical ingredients or material growth procedure.Technical AbstractRecent progress in light source technology is driving the worldwide development of beamlines with highly focused micron- and 100-nanometer-scale beam spots. This project uses spectromicroscopy implementations of the angle resolved photoemission and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering techniques to uncover the electronic structures underlying core properties of interest within selected magnetic quantum materials. Particular focus is given to cases that have presented challenges to the previous generation of spectrographs, such as select topologically ordered materials that incorporate magnetic elements. A key factor in achieving this ambitious goal is the use and further development of a suite of techniques for analyzing sparse big data sets from measurements in which a beam is rastered rapidly over a sample surface while recording spatially resolved spectra. This approach simultaneously minimizes beam damage and makes it possible to catalogue the regional variability of the electronic structure, to identify the nontrivial interplay phenomena caused by quantum hybridization and strong correlations. Algorithms and software created to address these analysis challenges are made available to the broader spectroscopy community. The research activities on advanced materials are integrated with facility tours and other outreach for local K-12 students.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.