A New Window for the Control and Measurement of Quantum Systems

该项目旨在创造一种新型的量子物质磁性实验探测器，使我们能够同时创建和测量新的量子态。我们的创新将把磁光克尔效应(MOKE)技术与低温高压方法相结合，产生一种新的HP-LT-MOKE测量系统。MOKE是一种传统上用于研究薄膜器件磁性的光学技术。高压技术有着广泛的应用，可以以一种可控的方式改变许多材料的性质，包括一系列量子现象和相。高压对材料的性能有很大的影响。施加压力会推动原子更紧密地结合在一起，这样做不仅可以改变材料的原子晶体结构，还可以改变它们的电子和磁性。我们可以采用压力“量子调谐”，即施加在样品上的压力可以干净而准确地“推动”材料进入在环境条件下不容易观察到的新的物质状态，或者可以微妙地改变性质，如半导体的带隙。所产生的态的性质与系统中的晶体结构以及磁性和电子秩序的性质内在地联系在一起。由于在量子临界点附近可能存在非常规超导、非费米液体行为等奇异现象，铁磁性边界的研究引起了人们的极大兴趣。这些影响在理论上具有重大意义，在实践上也具有重要意义，例如与磁记录、磁制冷和能源技术有关。

The project aims to create a new type of experimental probe for magnetism in quantum matter which will enable us to simultaneously create and measure new quantum states. Our innovation will combine the technique of magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) with high pressure methods at low temperatures producing a new HP-LT-MOKE measurement system. MOKE is an optical technique traditionally used for the study of magnetic properties of thin film devices. High pressure techniques have a wide range of applications and can alter many material properties in a controlled way including a range of quantum phenomena and phases. The properties of materials are strongly modified by high pressure. Applying pressure pushes the atoms closer together and in so doing can alter not only the materials' atomic crystal structure, but also change their electronic and magnetic properties. We can employ pressure "quantum tuning" in which the pressure applied to samples can be used to cleanly and precisely "push" materials into new states of matter which cannot be readily observed at ambient conditions, or can subtly change properties, such as the band gap in semiconductors. The nature of the states produced is intrinsically linked to the crystal structure and the nature of the magnetic and electronic order in the system. The study of the border of ferromagnetism is of great interest due to the possibility of unconventional superconductivity, non-Fermi liquid behaviour and other exotic phenomena near quantum critical points. The effects are both theoretically significant and of practical importance being relevant to, for example magnetic recording, magnetic refrigeration and energy technologies.