State-of-the-art magnetometry for quantum matter, functional materials, topological magnets and superconductors

用于量子物质、功能材料、拓扑磁体和超导体的最先进的磁力测量

• 批准号: EP/V054031/1
• 负责人: Tom Lancaster
• 金额: $ 84.02万
• 依托单位: Durham University
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FV054031%2F1
• 关键词: State; art; magnetometry; quantum; matter

Magnetic phenomena in materials are some of the oldest discoveries of science and continue to be some of the technologically most widespread and useful. Despite this, an understanding of magnetism is relatively recent and is undergoing a rapid change, with key discovery of new physics, materials and applications. While all solid materials have some interaction with magnetic fields, some enjoy very strong interactions that lead to new states of matter, or properties, that can be used to sense external changes or store information. Recent examples include materials that host magnetic skyrmions, which are vortex-like patterns of magnetic moments that show promise for energy-efficient data storage, and spintronic systems where the magnetic properties of electrons can be harnessed in addition to the electronic charge. Research into novel magnetism requires the precise synthesis of complex materials followed by a detailed characterization of their properties. The topic is characterized by the rapid translation of new understandings from fundamental studies into societal applications, exemplified by advances in spintronics for the disk drive technology, that underpins cloud computing.The ability to perform high-sensitivity magnetic studies of materials at low temperatures is essential to enable internationally-leading research in magnetism and superconductivity. The measurement of DC magnetic susceptibility is used to characterise a newly-discovered magnetic material, allowing the elucidation of magnetic properties such as the presence of phase transitions, the magnetic moment of a material or the sign of magnetic exchange. In cases where moments are not static in time, much useful information can be extracted using AC magnetic susceptibility, a technique which utilises a periodically varying magnetic field. Magnetic properties are often very dependent on the direction a field is applied with respect to the underlying material's structure, that is critical both to fundamental understanding and in device applications, requiring us to make precise measurements as a function of orientation. The instrument commissioned under this project will allow this characterization, make it straightforwardly accessible to researchers from UK universities and industry and make it a focal point in the region. Materials measured will range from single crystals and powders of new complex oxides exhibiting diverse magnetic phenomena such as ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, spin-glass behaviour and skyrmions, to complex molecules used to test fundamental theories and to understand materials for spintronic applications, such as memory and sensing for "internet of things" flexible electronics. The instrument will also be key to determining the unique properties of superconductors which have enabled a step change in medical imaging using MRI scanners, and are used as components in fusion reactors. The new state-of-the-art instrument is more efficient than the old, now-obsolete models and has much-enhanced functionality needed to investigate the complex magnetic behaviour of cutting-edge materials. It will ensure the success of our users' ground-breaking research across a wide range of themes. It will feed into the research of the major facilities at STFC-ISIS and the Diamond Light Source, and will attract a wider range of users, both from the North East and across the UK.

材料中的磁性现象是最古老的科学发现之一，并且仍然是技术上最广泛和最有用的发现之一。尽管如此，对磁性的理解是相对较新的，并且正在经历快速的变化，新物理，材料和应用的关键发现。虽然所有固体材料都与磁场有一些相互作用，但有些材料具有非常强的相互作用，导致新的物质状态或性质，可用于感知外部变化或存储信息。最近的例子包括拥有磁性skyrmions的材料，这是一种类似于磁矩的涡旋模式，显示出节能数据存储的前景，以及自旋电子系统，除了电子电荷之外，还可以利用电子的磁性。对新磁性的研究需要精确合成复杂材料，然后对其性能进行详细表征。该课题的特点是将基础研究中的新认识迅速转化为社会应用，例如支持云计算的磁盘驱动器技术的自旋电子学的进步。在低温下对材料进行高灵敏度磁性研究的能力是实现国际领先的磁性和超导性研究的必要条件。直流磁化率的测量被用于识别新发现的磁性材料，允许阐明磁特性，例如相变的存在，材料的磁矩或磁交换的迹象。在时刻在时间上不是静态的情况下，可以使用AC磁化率提取许多有用的信息，AC磁化率是一种利用周期性变化磁场的技术。磁特性通常非常依赖于相对于底层材料结构施加的场的方向，这对于基本理解和设备应用都至关重要，需要我们根据方向进行精确测量。该项目委托的仪器将实现这种表征，使英国大学和工业界的研究人员可以直接使用它，并使其成为该地区的焦点。测量的材料将从单晶和新的复合氧化物粉末，表现出不同的磁性现象，如铁磁性，反铁磁性，自旋玻璃行为和skyrmions，到用于测试基础理论和理解自旋电子应用材料的复杂分子，如“物联网”柔性电子的存储器和传感器。该仪器也将是确定超导体独特性质的关键，超导体使使用MRI扫描仪的医学成像发生了一步变化，并用作聚变反应堆的组件。新的最先进的仪器比旧的、现已过时的型号更有效，并且具有研究尖端材料的复杂磁性行为所需的增强功能。它将确保我们的用户在广泛的主题中进行突破性研究的成功。它将为STFC-ISIS和钻石光源的主要设施的研究提供信息，并将吸引来自东北部和英国各地的更广泛的用户。