X-ray and neutron scattering studies of quantum materials

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Technological advances made in the past century owe a great deal to our understanding of the basic physics of novel materials and our ability to adapt the composition and structure of materials for functional applications. On the other hand, these efforts to develop new materials have led to the creation of a remarkable atomic scale laboratory of quantum physics. Quantum materials, such as high temperature superconductors, exhibit extremely complex quantum phases, and transitions between them are driven by only small changes in composition, or through the application of external perturbations such as magnetic field or pressure. It is this great sensitivity to external perturbations that makes such complex quantum materials ideal for functional applications in electronics, communications, and energy, and detailed understanding of their physical properties is necessary for such applications. Of particular interest is the investigation of novel quantum phases, and transition and/or competition between these phases. For example, quantum spin liquid phase, in which conventional magnetic order is destroyed due to strong quantum fluctuations, is drawing much attention thanks to its exotic ground state properties and possible implications for superconductivity. Recently some organic quantum magnets that exhibit certain traits of the spin liquid phase have been discovered, and we will investigate such materials.