CAREER: New Materials in Condensed Matter Physics - The Case of Quasicrystals

寻找和合成新材料在凝聚态物理中起着至关重要的作用。准晶体是一个特别有趣的例子，因为它们具有远程原子有序，但没有常规晶体的平移对称性。因此，探索有序但非周期性结构对材料的物理、磁性和电子特性的影响是可能的。这个学院早期职业发展（Career）奖将资助一个项目，该项目将通过合成和测量高质量的单粒样品来解决准晶体领域的突出问题。特别是，本工作将探索和阐明准晶体中有序、周期性和结构完善对电子输运、磁基态和相变的复杂作用。大多数材料是不均匀熔化的，自通量技术是一种非常适合的合成路线。用于探测热力学和输运性质的实验技术包括磁化率、热容、电阻率和霍尔效应测量。参与这项研究的学生将学习合成、表征和分析技能，这些技能将使他们能够在学术界、工业界或政府实验室找到未来的工作。此外，PI的研究工作将整合到一个新的讲座课程中，通过对规范材料的详细讨论，介绍凝聚态物理领域的当代挑战。具体的例子和实验技术从PI自己的实验室将被用来激励和说明本课程的各个方面。PI还将继续他对儿童科学出版物的兴趣。凝聚态物理领域的进步往往与新材料的发展密切相关。这些进展可能预示着新的理论挑战，对已知现象的更清晰理解或更先进的应用。在所有情况下，寻找和合成新材料起着至关重要的作用，这是斯坦福大学PI实验室的重点。准晶体就是一个特别的例子。这些奇异的材料具有长程原子秩序，但没有传统晶体的平动对称性。因此，探索有序但非周期性结构对材料的物理、磁性和电子特性的影响是可能的。这个学院早期职业发展（Career）奖将资助一个项目，该项目将通过合成和测量高质量的单粒样品来解决准晶体领域的突出问题。特别是，本工作将探索和阐明准晶体中有序、周期性和结构完善对电子输运、磁基态和相变的复杂作用。参与这项研究的学生将学习合成、表征和分析技能，这些技能将使他们能够在学术界、工业界或政府实验室找到未来的工作。此外，PI的研究工作将整合到一个新的讲座课程中，通过对规范材料的详细讨论，介绍凝聚态物理领域的当代挑战。具体的例子和实验技术从PI自己的实验室将被用来激励和说明本课程的各个方面。PI还将继续他对儿童科学出版物的兴趣。

The search for, and synthesis of, new materials plays a crucial role in Condensed Matter Physics. Quasicrystals are a specific case of interest because they possess long-range atomic order but without the translational symmetry of conventional crystals. It is therefore possible to explore the consequences of an ordered but non-periodic structure on physical, magnetic and electronic properties of a material. This Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award will fund a project that will address outstanding questions in the field of quasicrystals via the synthesis and measurement of high-quality, single-grain samples. In particular, this work will explore and clarify the complex roles of order, periodicity and structural perfection on electronic transport, and magnetic ground states and phase transitions in quasicrystals. The materials are for the most part incongruently melting, and the self-flux technique is a well-suited synthesis route. Experimental techniques used to probe the thermodynamic and transport properties include susceptibility, heat capacity, resistivity and Hall effect measurements. The students involved with this research will learn synthesis, characterization, and analysis skills that will enable them to find future employment in academe, industry, or government laboratories. In addition the PI's research efforts will be integrated into a new lecture course that introduces contemporary challenges in the field of condensed matter physics via the detailed discussion of canonical materials. Specific examples and experimental techniques from the PI's own laboratory will be used to motivate and illustrate various aspects of this course. The PI will also continue his interest in scientific publication for children.Advances in the field of Condensed Matter Physics often go hand-in-hand with the development of new materials. These advances may herald new theoretical challenges, a clearer understanding of well-known phenomena or advanced applications. In all cases, the search for, and synthesis of, new materials plays a crucial role, and this is the focus of the PI's laboratory at Stanford University. Quasicrystals are a specific case in point. These exotic materials possess long-range atomic order but without the translational symmetry of conventional crystals. It is therefore possible to explore the consequences of an ordered but non-periodic structure on physical, magnetic and electronic properties of a material. This Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award will fund a project that will address outstanding questions in the field of quasicrystals via the synthesis and measurement of high-quality, single-grain samples. In particular, this work will explore and clarify the complex roles of order, periodicity and structural perfection on electronic transport, and magnetic ground states and phase transitions in quasicrystals. The students involved with this research will learn synthesis, characterization, and analysis skills that will enable them to find future employment in academe, industry, or government laboratories. In addition the PI's research efforts will be integrated into a new lecture course that introduces contemporary challenges in the field of condensed matter physics via the detailed discussion of canonical materials. Specific examples and experimental techniques from the PI's own laboratory will be used to motivate and illustrate various aspects of this course. The PI will also continue his interest in scientific publication for children.