An investigation into topological and exotic quantum states under extreme conditions (InvestInTopQuantEx)

• Grant number: 18/08845-3
• Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2019 - September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal researcher: Julio Antonio Larrea Jimenez
• Grantee: Julio Antonio Larrea Jimenez
• Home Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated grant(s): 19/24797-1 - Neutron and bulk investigations of nanocrystalline Sm$_{1-x}$y$_{x}$Co$_{5}$: a new route towards hard permanent magnets, AV.EXT
• Associated scholarship(s): 21/00921-5 - Development of technicality for a home-built AC-thermal transport option, BP.IC; 20/01377-4 - Investigation of topological and emergent quantum phenomena in Kondo lattices under extreme conditions, BP.DD; 19/24522-2 - Investigation of emergent quantum phenomena in systems with reduced size and dimensionality, BP.DD; 19/24711-0 - Uncovering novel states of quantum matter in strongly correlated spin systems under extreme conditions, BP.DD; 19/24687-1 - Investigation of collective quantum phenomena in low-dimensional systems, BP.MS

Abstract

The aim of this proposal is to add new areas of research in the Institute of Physics of the University of São Paulo (IF-USP). This proposal covers the investigation of topologically nontrivial and exotic quantum phases in strongly correlated electron systems (SCES) close to a quantum phase transition and, the setting of physical property measurements under multiple extreme conditions: very high pressure (up to 200 kbar), very low temperature (down to 0.05 K), intensive magnetic fields (up to 20 T) on ultra-clean bulk and nanostructured materials. The materials to be investigated in this proposal are currently at the forefront of SCES: the cubic heavy fermion compound Ce3Pd20Si6, the Kondo insulator CeRu4Sn6, the quantum paramagnet SrCu2(BO3)2, the insulator SrTiO3, the semiconductor FeGa3. In order to investigate all these materials, new experimental methods working under extreme conditions will be installed in IF-USP: specific heat, magnetic susceptibility, electrical transport and thermal transport (thermopower, thermal conductivity, Nernst effect), all of them working under multiple extreme conditions. In addition, nanoparticles of FeGa3 in thin films and powder will be produced in IF-USP in order to address open question about the enhancement of thermoelectricity in nanoscopic systems and its application for energy harvesting. The results outcome from this project would contribute to the field of hot topics in condensed matter physics as well as to empower the Research Institutes of Sao Paulo state, in particular, forming a new research group devoted to the production of functional quantum materials and to the setting of experimental methods beyond the state-of-the art. Besides, the funding provided by FAPESP within this call would relevantly help to consolidate the independent research career of Prof. Dr. Larrea, who is the responsible of this proposal (he enrolled in IF-USP since middle January 2018). (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LARREA JIMENEZ, J.; CRONE, S. P. G.; FOGH, E.; ZAYED, M. E.; LORTZ, R.; POMJAKUSHINA, E.; CONDER, K.; LAEUCHLI, A. M.; WEBER, L.; WESSEL, S.; HONECKER, A.; NORMAND, B.; RUEEGG, CH.; CORBOZ, P.; RONNOW, H. M.; MILA, F. A quantum magnetic analogue to the critical point of water. Nature, v. 592, n. 7854, p. 370+, APR 15 2021. Web of Science Citations: 3.