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: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=763000
• 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，新技术的发展有赖于对新材料特性的发现和了解。在这个时间点上，我们正处于一场基于利用与量子力学相关的性质的技术发展的深刻转变的尖端。使这种情况发生的材料被称为量子材料。然而，在任何技术上的可能性成为现实之前，有很多关于量子材料的知识需要学习，并建立潜在的知识是我们研究计划的重点。量子材料是这些独特的材料，其性质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，然而，我的研究计划的重点是受挫的磁性材料和拓扑绝缘体。其目标是对这些量子材料的输运性质产生新的知识和理解，这将为潜在的技术创新提供一个平台。这项研究计划的一个关键方面是，因为这些量子力学性质是脆弱的，所以实验必须在低温下进行，在那里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，也可以在强磁场下操作。这些输运测量提供了有关移动激发性质的重要详细信息。此外，我的研究实验室正准备开发一种仪器来测量超低温下的热霍尔效应。这项技术在建立材料量子力学描述的各种拓扑方面是有价值的。这种测量能力目前在世界上只有一两个实验室可用，而不是在加拿大。我们研究计划的结果是量子材料的电荷和热输运的温度和磁场的依赖关系。这类研究不仅有其本身的价值，因为它的应用的流动性的相关性，它还可以与其他性质的测量相结合，并与理论模型进行比较，以创建一个完整的理解。所有这些对未来技术的设计都至关重要。对加拿大人的好处集中在知识创造上，这对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，他们将在这一快速加速的未来技术发展领域保持加拿大的竞争力。