Preparation, refining, crystal growth and supply of specimens for metal physics research

凝聚态物理中几乎所有具有重要科学意义的现象（如复杂的磁性行为、重费米子系统、多相超导体、中间价系统、强相关电子系统、近道晶格、准晶体、自旋波动合金、量子相变等）都涉及合金或金属化合物，如稀土、难熔过渡金属、铀或钍。然而，制作这些材料的高质量研究样本并非易事，很少有“物理”实验室拥有必要的专业知识或设备来完全完成这项至关重要的任务。经过大量的国家投资，英国凝聚态物理界现在可以使用一些世界上最好的中子、同步加速器和介子设施；因此，如果它要保持其国际地位，就必须继续获得同样世界级的样品制备服务。因此，我们提出的计划的主要目的是利用我们独特的设施来提供高质量的样品，必要时以单晶形式，用于英国大学和研究实验室的任何团体的各种研究，这些研究得到了EPSRC的支持。我们计划通过继续研究材料制备和晶体生长方法来增加样品供应计划，特别强调图像炉技术。在这里，我们的目标是生长和表征共掺杂金红石和正铁氧体材料的晶体，并整理一个数据库，涵盖该技术的所有报道用途

SUMMARYNearly all of the scientifically important phenomena in condensed matter physics (e.g. complex magnetic behaviour, heavy fermion systems, multiphase superconductors, intermediate valence systems, strongly correlated electron systems, Kondo lattices, quasicrystals, spin fluctuating alloys, quantum phase transitions, etc.) involve alloys or compounds of metals such as the rare earths, refractory transition metals, uranium or thorium. Making high quality research samples of these materials is not trivial, however, and few 'physics' laboratories have the necessary expertise or equipment to carry out fully this vital task themselves. After substantial national investment, the UK condensed matter physics community now has access to some of the world's best neutron, synchrotron and muon facilities; it is imperative, therefore, that it continues to have access to an equally world-class sample preparation service if it is to maintain its international standing. Thus the primary aim of our proposed programme is to use our unique amenities to supply high quality samples, where necessary in single crystal form, for use in a diverse range of studies by any groups in UK universities and research laboratories that have EPSRC support for their research. We plan to augment this programme of sample provision by continuing our research into materials preparation and crystal growth methods, with particular emphasis on the image furnace technique. Here we aim to grow and characterise crystals of Co-doped rutile and orthoferrite materials and to collate a database covering all reported uses of this technique