Synthesis of (Fe, Sn)-based intermetallics for investigation of Topological and Correlated Quantum Matter

• Grant number: 22/15746-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: September 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Julio Antonio Larrea Jimenez
• Grantee: Seyedali Salehizadeh
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/08845-3 - An investigation into topological and exotic quantum states under extreme conditions (InvestInTopQuantEx), AP.JP

Abstract

This postdoc project focuses on the development of new strategies to synthesize stronglycorrelated electron systems (SCES), from mesoscopic to nanoscopic scale, and to investigatetheir physical properties with local-probe and bulk experimental methods with the aim toovercome current issues in the realization of quantum materials that host topological andcorrelated quantum states.The selected intermetallic compounds in this project are FeSexTe1x and SnSexTe1x,which are at the forefront of SCES. These materials are predicted to host a rich varietyof exotic quantum phenomena whose observation continues to be elusive experimentally:collective quantum states close to a quantum phase transition, local magnetic/electronicanisotropic interactions, electron and spin correlation with putative entangled quantumstates, anisotropic/anharmonic phonons and topological quantum states. Other novel materialswill be likely added as the collaboration with our group members intensifies.We also propose the development of state-of-the-art experimental methods to measurephysical properties in nanoscopic system (nanoparticle alloys and thin films), which will beset in the new Laboratory for Quantum Matter under Extreme Conditions = LQMEC),headed by Prof. Larrea who is the supervisor of this proposal. In addition, we are planningto perform local probe experimental methods available in our in-house (like Mössbauer spectroscopy)and in external (Multi-User labs) laboratories in order to give robust experimentalevidences of novel materials with unique physical properties as efficient thermoelectricty,topological and unconventional superconductivity, and dissipationless transport phenomenaand more.Besides the scientific achievements, it is expected that the outcomings of this postdoctoralproject also provide good quality of quantum materials for future investigationsunder multiple extreme conditions in our new Laboratory LQMEC hosted in the Instituteof Physics of the University of São Paulo (IFUSP) and supported by the grant JovemPesquisador (JP) FAPESP (processo 2018/08845-3).