Scanning tunneling microscopy in topological nontrivial compounds

• Grant number: 20/12283-0
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): November 30, 2020
• Effective date (End): November 29, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Pascoal Jose Giglio Pagliuso
• Grantee: Jean Carlo Souza
• Supervisor abroad: Steffen Wirth
• Home Institution: Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Local de pesquisa : Max Planck Society, Dresden, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 18/11364-7 - Magnetic properties of complex systems with non-trivial topology, BP.DR

Abstract

Topological states of matter are one of the most explored subjects in quantum materials.In this project, we propose the study - using scanning tunneling microscopy - of twodistinct families, which possess different topological states: the half-Heuslers Y(Pd,Pt)Bi and the Weyl semimetals RAlX (R = La, Ce, Pr; X = Ge, Si). In case of the half-Heuslers, we would like to explore the interplay between CEF effects and their topologically insulating properties. The CEF levels splitting are an exciting playground to be explored using a spectroscopic technique, however we have a real challenge in cleaving cubic samples.Concerning the RAlX family, the topological nature of some members is still unknown.Here, due to the distance between the Weyl nodes, it is really difficult to fully resolvethese nodes using ARPES, therefore our measurements of the local density of states canshed light into the problem. The envisioned scanning tunneling microscopy experiments will be performed at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (MPI-CPfS), Germany, as they cannot be achieved at our group in Brazil. Besides, the MPI-CPfS is one of the most renowned physics institute around the world, performing cutting-edge scientific research. Prof. Dr.Steffen Wirth is a world-renowned expert in scanning tunneling microscopy and has anextensive list of high impact publications and numerous citations. In consequence, thisinternship will provide the knowledge of one technique, with the focus of quantum materials.This knowledge will reinforce even more my formation and is a continuity of my PhD work until now. Moreover, our group in Campinas has excellent collaborations with a number of scientists at the MPI-CPfS and we would strengthen this collaboration, providing a successful route for the exchange of students. Therefore, this internship will bring an extensive list of benefits to my career advancement, my group and even for futurestudents from Unicamp, which reinforces the great value of this opportunity.