CAREER: Discovery and Characterization of Strongly Correlated Topological Materials

摘要：新型量子材料的发展是由两个概念驱动的：带结构拓扑和强电子相关性。由于计算强相关系统的能带结构的长期挑战，这两个凝聚态物理中心主题的相互作用尚未得到积极的研究。研究小组正在研究强相关电子系统的新型拓扑特性，目标是未知的相，转变和功能。本项目基于课题组开发的实用设计原理，加速了强相关物理与能带结构拓扑的理论统一，极大地增强了我们对量子材料的认识，进一步拓展了拓扑相的视野。这些可能会为未来的技术带来有前途的应用。一个全面的教育和推广计划被纳入传播量子物理和量子材料的核心知识，以广泛的学生和不同背景的社区。技术摘要：由于库仑斥力和电子的动力学自由度之间的相互作用，强相关材料的拓扑性质预测是一个理论挑战。研究小组正在研究源自强相关性和带结构拓扑之间的收敛的奇异相和材料。研究小组已经开发了一种实用的设计原则，指导系统地发现新的强相关拓扑材料，具体实现方法是结合(1)近藤杂化引起的强相关，(2)非对称晶体对称性引起的能带交叉，以及(3)铀系统中的大自旋轨道耦合。研究小组将利用单晶合成、电和热输运测量、第一性原理计算和光谱学来识别源于强相关的非平凡拓扑的新系统，并发现新的低能激发。该项目的具体目标包括：(1)揭示近藤杂交产生非平凡拓扑带的机制及其对反常霍尔效应的贡献；(2)在二维极限中发现由强相关引起的新拓扑状态；(3)了解Kondo-Weyl半金属中异常霍尔效应的异常场依赖性。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值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:The development of new quantum materials is driven by two concepts, band structure topology and strong electronic correlations. Due to the long-standing challenge of calculating band structures of strongly correlated systems, the interplay of these two central themes of condensed matter physics has not been actively investigated. The research team is studying novel topological properties of strongly correlated electronic systems, aiming for yet-unknown phases, transitions, and functionalities. Based on a practical design principle developed by the research team, this project accelerates the theoretical unification of strong correlation physics and band structure topology, greatly enhances our understanding of quantum materials, further expands the horizon of topological phases. These might lead to promising applications for future technologies. A comprehensive education and outreach plan is incorporated to transmit the core knowledge of quantum physics and quantum materials to a large range of students and communities with diverse backgrounds.Technical Abstract:Due to the interplay between Coulomb repulsion and kinetic degrees of freedom of electrons, the prediction of topological properties in strongly correlated materials represents a theoretical challenge. The research team is investigating exotic phases and materials originating from the convergence between strong correlations and band structure topology. The research team has developed a practical design principle to guide the systematic discovery of novel strongly correlated topological materials, which is specifically realized by combining (1) strong correlations induced by Kondo hybridization, (2) band crossing enforced by non-symmorphic crystal symmetries, and (3) large spin orbital coupling in uranium systems. The research team will utilize single crystal synthesis, electric and thermal transport measurement, first principle calculations and photoemission spectroscopy to identify new systems with non-trivial topology originating from strong correlations and discover new emergent low energy excitations. Specific goals of the project include: (1) to reveal the the mechanism by which Kondo hybridization gives rise to nontrivial topological bands and its contribution to the anomalous Hall effect; (2) to discover novel topological states induced by strong correlation in the 2D limit; and (3) to understand the unusual field dependence of the anomalous Hall effect in Kondo-Weyl semimetals.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.