RUI: Investigation of Strongly Correlated Electron Behavior in Rare Earth Related Materials

********技术摘要********本项目将支持稀土相关材料中强相关电子现象的实验研究。这些现象是由电子或磁性相互作用之间的微妙相互作用引起的，可以通过调节实验参数（如温度、磁场、化学成分和降维）来控制。本研究的主要重点是研究磁性对填充方角石取代体系Pr1-xNdxOs4Sb12中非常规超导性的影响，研究邻近化合物NdOs4Sb12和CeOs4Sb12的电子结构，以了解pro4sb12的量子临界行为和超导配对机制，以及降维对钆和钕纳米颗粒磁性的影响。通过高质量样品的合成和这些稀土材料的输运和热力学性质的建立，它们可以作为模型系统来探索电子态的局域性和流变性，并检验现有的强相关电子现象理论。该项目提供的研究经验和实践安排将帮助本科生和硕士课程学生攻读博士学位并开始他们的工业职业生涯。*******非技术摘要*******支持本科院校稀土相关材料的材料科学研究。本研究的主要重点是超导材料和磁性纳米颗粒的合成和表征，目的是了解它们的潜在机制。这些材料有望在能源节约、能源存储、数字信息存储和医学成像等各个领域得到有用的技术应用。这个项目将允许本科生和硕士项目的学生直接参与实验，让他们在学术生活的早期阶段获得实践经验。通过这项工作提供的机会将鼓励学生在STEM领域接受高等教育和职业。

********Technical Abstract********This project will support experimental research in the strongly correlated electron phenomena in rare earth related materials. These phenomena arise from a subtle interplay between competing interactions, either electronic or magnetic, which can be controlled through tuning the experimental parameters such as temperature, magnetic field, chemical composition, and reduced dimensionality. The primary focus of this research is on the effect of magnetism on unconventional superconductivity in the filled skutterudite substitution system Pr1-xNdxOs4Sb12, the investigation of the electronic structures of near-by compounds NdOs4Sb12 and CeOs4Sb12 for understanding the quantum critical behavior and superconducting pairing mechanism in PrOs4Sb12, and the effect of reduced dimensionality on magnetism in gadolinium and neodymium nanoparticles. Through the synthesis of high quality specimens and the establishment of transport and thermodynamical properties of these rare earth materials, they can be used as model systems to probe the localized and itinerant nature of the electron states and test the existing theories for strongly correlated electron phenomena. The research experience and practical placement provided by this project will help undergraduate and MS program students pursue Ph. D degrees and start their careers in industry.*******Non-Technical Abstract*******This project will support material science research of rare-earth related materials at an undergraduate institution. The primary focus of this research is on the synthesis and characterization of superconducting materials and magnetic nanoparticles, with the goal of understanding their underlying mechanisms. These materials promise useful technical applications in diverse fields such as energy conservation, energy storage, digital information storage, and medical imaging. This project will allow direct participation by undergraduate and MS-program students in the experiments, giving them hands-on experience at the early stage of their academic life. The opportunities provided through this work will encourage students to pursue higher education and careers in the STEM fields.