High field superconductivity in actinide quantum materials

非技术摘要：自旋三重态超导是一种在真实材料中很少发现的奇异量子现象，因此了解它的工作原理具有根本的物理意义。自旋三重态超导电性也被视为未来量子计算应用的潜在平台。本项目是利用多种测量技术对自旋三重态超导电性在强磁场下的性质进行的实验研究。一个研究焦点是最近发现的材料二碲化铀，它具有许多不寻常的物理性质，其中最突出的是存在一种新的高场超导相，其起源尚不清楚。这项研究促进了对电子关联、存在多个竞争相互作用时的涌现性质以及它们在自旋三重态超导电性中的作用的基本物理理解。该研究计划培养一名博士后研究员，为培养量子材料合成和测量方面的初级研究人员做出贡献，并利用国家科学用户设施进行专业化实验。该计划有助于为本科生和研究生提供公共宣传活动和教育机会。技术摘要：自旋三重态超导物理具有极大的基础兴趣，因为这种现象在真实材料中很少见。拓扑超导的分类和实现也引起了应用兴趣，因为研究人员正在寻找有前途的平台来开发容错量子计算。本项目主要研究自旋三重态超导体二碲化铀及其相关材料的强磁场相和性质。这种本征拓扑超导的领先候选者有一个非常丰富的高场相图，包括大约40到65特斯拉之间的最高场重入超导相，这被认为是由降维的电子驱动的。该团队对铀碲化物和相关材料进行有针对性的高磁场测量，包括传输、磁测量和量热，以识别和理解这些新的和不寻常的高场电子秩序形式。这些测量精确地定义了铀碲化物及其相关材料的复杂高场相界，洞察了是什么稳定了这些浮现相及其微观有序参数。该项目促进了对电子关联、在存在多个竞争相互作用的情况下的涌现性质以及非传统超导性的理解。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Non-Technical Abstract:Spin-triplet superconductivity is an exotic quantum phenomenon rarely identified in real materials, making it of fundamental physical interest to understand how it works. Spin-triplet superconductivity is also being pursued as a potential platform for future quantum computing applications. This project is an experimental investigation of the properties of spin-triplet superconductivity at high magnetic fields using multiple measurement techniques. A research focus is the recently discovered material, uranium ditelluride, that has numerous unusual physical properties, the most outstanding of which is the presence of a new high-field superconducting phase whose origins are not well understood. This research advances fundamental physical understanding of electron correlations, emergent properties in the presence of multiple competing interactions, and their role in spin-triplet superconductivity. This research program trains a postdoctoral researcher, contributes to the training of junior researchers in quantum materials synthesis and measurement, and utilizes national scientific user facilities to perform specialized experiments. The program contributes to public outreach activities and educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.Technical Abstract: The physics of spin-triplet superconductivity is of great fundamental interest as examples of this phenomenon are rare in real materials. Classification and realization of topological superconductivity is also of applied interest, as researchers look for promising platforms on which to develop fault-tolerant quantum computing. This project focuses on the high magnetic field phases and properties of the spin triplet superconductor uranium ditelluride and related materials. This leading candidate for intrinsic topological superconductivity has a remarkably rich high-field phase diagram, including the highest-field reentrant superconducting phase between approximately 40 and 65 teslas, which is believed to be driven by reduced electron dimensionality. The team performs targeted high magnetic field measurements, including transport, magnetometry, and calorimetry, on uranium ditelluride and related materials to identify and understand these new and unusual forms of high-field electronic order. These measurements precisely define the complicated high-field phase boundaries of uranium ditelluride and related materials, give insight into what stabilizes these emergent phases and their microscopic order parameters. The project advances understanding of electron correlations, emergent properties in the presence of multiple competing interactions, and unconventional superconductivity.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.