Chemical disorder on magnetic ground state selection

本博士研究生的目的是揭示化学无序对YbMgGaO4磁性基态选择的影响，从而揭示其对QSL态的重要性。学生将寻找和探索新的、阳离子有序的衍生物来取代Mg2+/Ga3+位点。通过改变离子电荷和阳离子的化学计量，学生的目标是迫使无序的Mg2+/Ga3+层变成有序的结构，从而揭示YbO6八面体受挫的量子磁性层的内在物理学。该项目将涉及计算机辅助材料设计、高通量无机材料合成以及中子和x射线散射测量的组合和发展。该学生将受益于利物浦大学最近开设的材料创新工厂，并将在大型中子和同步加速器设施中使用最先进的实验设备。

The purpose of this PhD studentship is to unravel the effect of chemical disorder on the magnetic ground state selection in YbMgGaO4, and thus its importance to the QSL state. The student will seek and explore new, cation-ordered derivatives to substitute onto the Mg2+/Ga3+ sites. By varying the ionic charge and stoichiometry of the cations, the student will aim toforce the disordered Mg2+/Ga3+ layers into an ordered structure and thus to reveal the intrinsic physics of the frustrated quantum magnetic layers of YbO6 octahedra. The project will involve the combination and development of computer-aided materials design, high-throughput inorganic materials synthesis, and neutron and X-ray scattering measurements. The student will benefit from the recently-opened Materials Innovation Factory at the University of Liverpool, and will use state-of-the-art experimental apparatus at large-scale neutron and synchrotron facilities.