Project Details
TRR 288: Elastic Tuning and Response of Electronic Quantum Phases of Matter (ELASTO-Q-MAT)
Subject Area
Physics
Term
since 2020
Website
Homepage
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 422213477
Quantum materials are systems designed to showcase novel and often exotic electronic, magnetic, or optical properties arising from quantum mechanical phenomena at the atomic or subatomic level. Research on quantum materials is motivated by the potential for groundbreaking discoveries and transformative applications. Examples are novel superconductors, quantum magnets, quantum spin liquids, electronic nematics, and topological materials. Within the TRR we have developed innovative experimental techniques that enable precise strain tuning and the measurement of various physical properties, both at the world’s premier large-scale research facilities and University laboratories. Our approach allows us to manipulate material properties in ways chemistry alone cannot achieve. It has led to groundbreaking discoveries, such as novel states of matter like nematic quantum liquids, altermagnets, superelasticity, and unique nonlinear electron-lattice interactions in unconventional superconductors. Our development of novel experimental methods, such as the AC-elastocaloric effect under stress, magnetic circular dichroism in time-of-flight momentum microscopy, and scanning micro-Raman spectroscopy, provides unprecedented insights to uncover the often well-hidden secrets of quantum materials. Our forward-looking approach is to exploit and showcase - for a well-defined set of quantum materials - the intrinsic connection between correlated-electron dynamics and lattice dynamics. The long-term goals of the TRR are i) to develop a systematic understanding of physical phenomena that are the result of a strong coupling between electronic orders and the crystalline lattice, over a wide range of time- and length scales, ii) to design, understand, and advance electronic quantum materials with exceptional mechanical responsiveness, and iii) to explore the potential of such interacting systems to create new functionalities that enable or facilitate interfacing between mechanical and electronic properties. To formulate the concrete objectives, we will build upon breakthrough results and address a specific set of open problems. We propose to: 1) Advance the understanding of altermagnetism as a new class of magnetic d-, g- and i-wave order with strong elastic coupling and extremely promising spin transport properties. 2) Advance the identification of novel strain-tuned instabilities such as charge- and spin-density waves, ordered magnetism and spin liquids, and particularly the connection between first-principles theory and their experimental characterization. 3) Explore the many-body density of states of quantum materials using the elastocaloric effect. 4) Exploit super-elasticity with large maximum recoverable strain to design new materials with functional properties such as efficient elastocaloric cooling capabilities. 5) Explore spectroscopically and theoretically the coherent dynamics of strong local fluctuations that occur in states like nematic liquids.
DFG Programme
CRC/Transregios
Current projects
- A02 - Uniaxial- and biaxial-strain-induced phase tuning of correlated metals (Project Heads Böhmer, Anna E. ; Hardy, Frédéric ; Meingast, Christoph )
- A03 - Single crystal growth of correlated intermetallic compounds with strong electron-lattice coupling (Project Heads Kliemt, Kristin ; Krellner, Cornelius )
- A04 - Strain effects in thin films of correlated intermetallic compounds (Project Head Huth, Michael )
- A05 - Interplay of lattice, charge and spin degrees of freedom from first principles (Project Head Valenti, Maria Roser )
- A07 - Theoretical approaches to electron-phonon coupling in strongly correlated systems (Project Heads Kopietz, Peter ; Schmalian, Jörg )
- A09 - Anomalous magnetoelasticity in altermagnets and antiferromagnets (Project Heads Gomonay, Olena ; Sinova, Ph.D., Jairo ; Smejkal, Libor )
- A10 - Stress-strain measurements and development of a thermodynamic elastoscope (Project Heads Hicks, Ph.D., Clifford ; Mackenzie, Andrew ; Noad, Hilary ; Sunko, Veronika )
- A11 - Quantum materials with strong elastic coupling (Project Head Garst, Markus )
- A12 - Strain control of altermagnetic devices (Project Heads Gomonay, Olena ; Kläui, Mathias )
- A13 - Elastically-tunable electronic orders in correlated electron systems under a.c. uniaxial pressures (Project Head Gati, Elena )
- B01 - Dynamics and noise of disordered strain-coupled electronic order (Project Head Schmalian, Jörg )
- B02 - Interplay of slow charge carrier dynamics and elastic effects in correlated multi-phase systems via noise spectroscopy (Project Head Müller, Jens )
- B03 - Elastic tuning of competing orders in quantum materials (Project Heads Haghighirad, Amir-Abbas ; Hicks, Ph.D., Clifford ; Le Tacon, Matthieu ; Souliou, Sofia Michaela )
- B04 - Momentum microscopy of highly correlated systems under strain (Project Head Elmers, Hans-Joachim )
- B05 - Correlations and altermagnetism in elastic tunable electronic systems (Project Heads Sinova, Ph.D., Jairo ; Smejkal, Libor ; Valenti, Maria Roser )
- B06 - Static and dynamic coupling of lattice and magnetic properties in low-symmetry two-dimensional materials (Project Heads Mokrousov, Yuriy ; Wulfhekel, Wulf )
- B08 - Ultrafast spectroscopy and manipulation of coupled electronic/lattice orders (Project Heads Demsar, Jure ; Roskos, Hartmut G. )
- B09 - Dynamics of strongly coupled electron-phonon systems (Project Heads Marino, Jamir ; Pientka, Falko )
- B10 - Tuning dimensionality in low-dimensional systems by strain (Project Heads Le Tacon, Matthieu ; Moll, Philip )
- Z - Central Tasks of the Transregional Collaborative Research Center (Project Head Valenti, Maria Roser )
Completed projects
- A01 - Strong electron-lattice coupling in correlated intermetallic compounds near valence- and structural instabilities (Project Heads Lang, Michael ; Wolf, Bernd )
- A06 - Elastic effects in strongly correlated molecule-based systems with geometrical frustration (Project Head Lang, Michael )
- A08 - NV-center spectroscopy for strain sensing of non-collinear antiferromagnets (Project Heads Sürgers, Christoph ; Wernsdorfer, Ph.D., Wolfgang )
- B07 - Phonon-driven control of electronic properties in hybrid perovskites and organic charge-transfer salts (Project Heads Bonn, Mischa ; Kim, Heejae )
Applicant Institution
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
Co-Applicant Institution
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz; Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
Participating University
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Participating Institution
Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Physik fester Stoffe; Max-Planck-Institut für Struktur und Dynamik der Materie (MPSD)
Spokesperson
Professorin Dr. Maria Roser Valenti