Exotic States of Correlated Electrons in Single Crystals
Co-leaders:
- Young S. Lee
- Daniel G. Nocera
Co-investigator:
- Shaoyan Chu
Research Goals
This initiative has a strong focus on basic research, where the aim is to discover and understand the exotic phases that arise in strongly interacting electron systems. The materials of interest involve quantum spins on low-dimensional lattices for which strong fluctuations and/or geometric frustration tend to suppress the classically expected ground states. As a result, states with unusual properties (such as superconductivity, anamolously high thermopower, or infinite ground-state degeneracy) can emerge. Single crystals will be synthesized and studied with the specialized techniques of neutron and synchrotron x-ray scattering and scanning tunneling microscopy (with atomic resolution).
Read more about Initiative activities in our 2008 annual report (PDF)
Highlights of Recent Research:
New understanding of high temperature superconductivity (2008)
A new spin on matter (2008)
Studying a new state of matter: The quantum spin liquid (2007)
