Quantum materials: research and discovery

量子材料：研究与发现

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04058
• 负责人: Hill, Robert
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=713258
• 关键词: Quantum; materials; research; discovery

Technology will continue to shape the future of Canadian society and the development of new technology relies on the discovery and understanding of the properties of new materials. At this point in time, we are on the cusp of a profound shift in technology development based on the harnessing of properties associated with quantum mechanics. The materials that will allow this to happen are called quantum materials. However, before any of the technological possibilities can become reality there is much to learn about quantum materials and establishing that underlying knowledge is the focus of our research program. Quantum materials are these unique materials whose properties stem from the collective quantum mechanical behaviour of their electrons and magnetic constituents. This is a broad category which encompasses a wide variety of materials and phenomena, however, the focus of my research program is on frustrated magnetic materials and topological insulators. The goal is to generate new knowledge and understanding of the transport properties of these quantum materials, which will provide a platform for potential technological innovation. A crucial aspect of this research program is that, because these quantum mechanical properties are fragile, the experiments must be performed at low temperatures where the absence of thermal energy means they can be observed and studied far more effectively. Our laboratory is equipped with the facilities for state-of-the-art ultra-low temperature thermal and charge conductivity measurements, which can also be operated in high magnetic fields. These transport measurements provide important detailed information on the properties of mobile excitations. In addition, my research lab is uniquely poised to develop apparatus to measure the thermal Hall effect at ultra-low temperatures. This technique is valuable in establishing various topological aspects of the quantum mechanical description of a material. This measurement capability is currently available in only one or two laboratories in the world, and not in Canada. The outcomes of our research program are the temperature and magnetic field dependence of the charge and thermal transport of quantum materials. Such research not only has value in its own right because of the relevance of the mobility of excitations for applications, it can also be combined with measurements of other properties and compared to theoretical models to create a complete understanding. All of this is critical to the design of future technology. The benefits to Canadians are centered on knowledge creation that will be crucial to the commercialization of future technology designed to solve current and future societal problems. In addition, the research conducted as part of this program involves the training of the next generation of quantum materials scientists who will maintain Canada's competitiveness in this rapidly accelerating area of future technological development.

技术将继续塑造加拿大社会的未来，新技术的发展依赖于对新材料特性的发现和理解。 此时此刻，我们正处于基于利用量子力学相关特性的技术开发深刻转变的风口浪尖。 能够实现这种情况的材料称为量子材料。 然而，在任何技术可能性成为现实之前，关于量子材料还有很多东西需要了解，而建立基础知识是我们研究计划的重点。 量子材料是这些独特的材料，其特性源于其电子和磁性成分的集体量子力学行为。这是一个广泛的类别，涵盖了各种各样的材料和现象，但是，我的研究计划的重点是受挫磁性材料和拓扑绝缘体。 目标是产生对这些量子材料的传输特性的新知识和理解，这将为潜在的技术创新提供平台。 该研究计划的一个重要方面是，由于这些量子力学特性很脆弱，因此实验必须在低温下进行，因为没有热能意味着可以更有效地观察和研究它们。 我们的实验室配备了最先进的超低温热导率和电荷电导率测量设备，也可以在高磁场中运行。 这些传输测量提供了有关移动激励特性的重要详细信息。 此外，我的研究实验室致力于开发测量超低温下热霍尔效应的设备。 该技术对于建立材料量子力学描述的各个拓扑方面非常有价值。 目前世界上只有一两个实验室具备这种测量能力，加拿大不具备这种能力。 我们研究项目的成果是量子材料的电荷和热传输的温度和磁场依赖性。由于激发迁移率与应用的相关性，此类研究不仅本身具有价值，而且还可以与其他属性的测量相结合，并与理论模型进行比较，以形成完整的理解。所有这些对于未来技术的设计都至关重要。 加拿大人的利益集中在知识创造上，这对于旨在解决当前和未来社会问题的未来技术的商业化至关重要。 此外，作为该计划的一部分进行的研究涉及培训下一代量子材料科学家，他们将保持加拿大在这个快速加速的未来技术发展领域的竞争力。