LEAPS-MPS: Investigation of topological spin texture and magnetoelectric coupling in non-centrosymmetric orthorhombic oxides

该奖项的全部或部分资金来自《2021年美国救援计划法案》(公法117-2)。非技术描述：该项目直接支持具有拓扑自旋织构的材料的开发，并研究其形成、控制机制和性能。拓扑自旋织构是在某些类别的材料中发现的纳米级磁体，可用于生产节能、快节奏和可靠的信息存储和传输设备。此外，通过这个项目开展的工作培训了来自历史上服务不足的社区的本科生，学习材料合成和表征技术，为下一代具有科学技能的劳动力做准备。本科生将接受从概念化到出版的材料物理研究的方方面面的培训，以便他们能够在他们的社区中充当榜样。这项研究还支持编写教材，让高中科学教师为亚特兰大大都会地区的大多数代表性不足的社区提供服务。这个项目有助于增加STEM教育中来自历史上服务不足的社区的学生的入学率和留存率。技术描述：这个LEAPS-MPS项目侧重于了解晶体对称性和化学成分在增强导致拓扑磁性的基本磁和自旋轨道相互作用以及非中心对称氧化物的相关磁电行为方面所发挥的作用。本课题以手性MMoTeO_6(M=Mn，Co，Fe，Cu，Ni)和极性的RTWO_6(R=稀土，T=Fe，Cr，V)氧化物为例，研究如下内容：(1)在等结构材料中，自旋织构的拓扑性质、尺寸和稳定性如何随化学成分的变化而变化？(Ii)铁电极化是否可以与自旋织构联系在一起，并使用电场来操纵？(3)极性和手性材料的磁电行为在数量和质量上有什么不同？这项工作对形成新的拓扑自旋织构的相互作用以及这种自旋结构与内部和外部场的耦合提供了重要的见解。这一奖项反映了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。

AbstractThis award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).Non-Technical Description:This project directly supports the development of materials that possess topological spin textures, and investigate their formation, control mechanisms and properties. Topological spin textures are nanosized magnets found in certain classes of materials and can be used to produce energy-efficient, fast-paced, and reliable information storage, and transfer devices. Furthermore, the works performed through this project train undergraduate students from a historically underserved community in material synthesis and characterization techniques to prepare the next generation of a scientifically skilled workforce. The undergraduate students will be trained in all aspects of material physics research from conceptualization to publication so that they can serve as role models in their community. This research also supports the development of educational materials with high school science teachers serving majority underrepresented communities in the diverse metro Atlanta area. This project contributes to increasing the enrollment and retention of students from historically underserved communities in STEM education.Technical Description:This LEAPS-MPS project focuses on understanding the role played by crystal symmetries and chemical constituents on the enhancement of the essential magnetic and spin-orbit interactions that lead to topological magnetism and the associated magnetoelectric behavior of non-centrosymmetric oxides. By taking the specific example of chiral MMoTeO6 (M=Mn, Co, Fe, Cu, Ni) and polar RTWO6 (R=Rare earth, T=Fe, Cr, V) oxides, this project investigates the following: (i) How do the topological character, size, and stability of spin textures vary with chemical compositions within the isostructural family of materials? (ii) Can ferroelectric polarization be associated with the spin textures and manipulated using an electric field? (iii) What are the quantitative and qualitative differences in the magnetoelectric behavior of polar and chiral materials? This work provides important insights into interactions responsible for the formation of novel topological spin textures and coupling of such spin structures to internal and external fields.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.