State-of-the-art magnetometry for quantum matter, functional materials, topological magnets and superconductors

材料中的磁性现象是一些最古老的科学发现，而且仍然是一些技术上最广泛和最有用的发现。尽管如此，随着新物理、新材料和新应用的关键发现，人们对磁学的理解相对较新，并且正在经历迅速的变化。虽然所有固体材料都与磁场有一定的相互作用，但有些固体材料具有非常强的相互作用，这种相互作用导致物质或性质的新状态，可以用来感知外部变化或存储信息。最近的例子包括拥有磁性天子的材料，这是一种涡旋状的磁矩图案，显示了节能数据存储的前景，以及自旋电子系统，在该系统中，除了电子电荷外，还可以利用电子的磁性。对新型磁性的研究需要对复杂材料进行精确的合成，然后对其性能进行详细的表征。这一主题的特点是将新的理解从基础研究迅速转化为社会应用，例如支持云计算的磁盘驱动器技术的自旋电子学的进步。在低温下对材料进行高灵敏度磁学研究的能力，对于使磁学和超导研究在国际上处于领先地位至关重要。直流磁化率的测量被用来表征新发现的磁性材料，从而能够阐明磁性性质，如相变的存在、材料的磁矩或磁交换的标志。在矩在时间上不是静态的情况下，可以使用交流磁化率来提取许多有用的信息，这是一种利用周期性变化的磁场的技术。磁性通常非常依赖于磁场相对于底层材料结构的施加方向，这对于基本理解和设备应用都是至关重要的，这要求我们根据取向进行精确的测量。根据该项目委托使用的仪器将允许这种表征，使来自英国大学和工业界的研究人员能够直接接触到它，并使其成为该地区的焦点。所测量的材料将从表现出铁磁性、反铁磁性、自旋玻璃行为和Skyrmions等各种磁性现象的新复合氧化物的单晶和粉末，到用于测试基本理论和了解自旋电子应用材料的复杂分子，例如“物联网”柔性电子产品的存储和传感。该仪器也将是确定超导体独特性质的关键，超导体使核磁共振扫描仪在医学成像中产生了阶段性变化，并被用作聚变反应堆的组件。这种新的最先进的仪器比旧的、现已过时的型号效率更高，并具有研究尖端材料复杂的磁性行为所需的大大增强的功能。它将确保我们用户在广泛主题上的开创性研究取得成功。它将用于STFC-ISIS和钻石光源的主要设施的研究，并将吸引来自东北部和整个英国的更广泛的用户。

Magnetic phenomena in materials are some of the oldest discoveries of science and continue to be some of the technologically most widespread and useful. Despite this, an understanding of magnetism is relatively recent and is undergoing a rapid change, with key discovery of new physics, materials and applications. While all solid materials have some interaction with magnetic fields, some enjoy very strong interactions that lead to new states of matter, or properties, that can be used to sense external changes or store information. Recent examples include materials that host magnetic skyrmions, which are vortex-like patterns of magnetic moments that show promise for energy-efficient data storage, and spintronic systems where the magnetic properties of electrons can be harnessed in addition to the electronic charge. Research into novel magnetism requires the precise synthesis of complex materials followed by a detailed characterization of their properties. The topic is characterized by the rapid translation of new understandings from fundamental studies into societal applications, exemplified by advances in spintronics for the disk drive technology, that underpins cloud computing.The ability to perform high-sensitivity magnetic studies of materials at low temperatures is essential to enable internationally-leading research in magnetism and superconductivity. The measurement of DC magnetic susceptibility is used to characterise a newly-discovered magnetic material, allowing the elucidation of magnetic properties such as the presence of phase transitions, the magnetic moment of a material or the sign of magnetic exchange. In cases where moments are not static in time, much useful information can be extracted using AC magnetic susceptibility, a technique which utilises a periodically varying magnetic field. Magnetic properties are often very dependent on the direction a field is applied with respect to the underlying material's structure, that is critical both to fundamental understanding and in device applications, requiring us to make precise measurements as a function of orientation. The instrument commissioned under this project will allow this characterization, make it straightforwardly accessible to researchers from UK universities and industry and make it a focal point in the region. Materials measured will range from single crystals and powders of new complex oxides exhibiting diverse magnetic phenomena such as ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, spin-glass behaviour and skyrmions, to complex molecules used to test fundamental theories and to understand materials for spintronic applications, such as memory and sensing for "internet of things" flexible electronics. The instrument will also be key to determining the unique properties of superconductors which have enabled a step change in medical imaging using MRI scanners, and are used as components in fusion reactors. The new state-of-the-art instrument is more efficient than the old, now-obsolete models and has much-enhanced functionality needed to investigate the complex magnetic behaviour of cutting-edge materials. It will ensure the success of our users' ground-breaking research across a wide range of themes. It will feed into the research of the major facilities at STFC-ISIS and the Diamond Light Source, and will attract a wider range of users, both from the North East and across the UK.