Research Projects

Transition-metal monoslicides (Msi) exhibit unique physical, magnetic, and electronic properties. Mnsi has a chiral-spin structure leading to the skyrmion lattice, while Cosi and Rhsi show topological multifold degenerate band crossing points (BCPs) in bulk quasi-particles near the Fermi level. surface Fermi arcs connect the bulk BCPs in Cosi and Rhsi. These properties are particularly attractive for their potential applications in topological quantum computations. A recent study on Fesi suggests that spin-orbit coupling in Fesi partially lifts the degeneracy of the band crossing points. To study these systems under time-reversal symmetry breaking, researchers plan to doping them with magnetic elements like Fe, Cr, Ni, and Mn. single crystals grown by the Bridgman furnace will be characterized using X-ray diffraction and EDAX. Transport and magnetotransport studies will be performed using physical property measurements. Vibrating scanning microscopy (VsM) will be used to understand the magnetic properties of the doped systems. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy will be used to understand the effect of magnetic impurity doping on the degeneracy of the multifold band crossing points in Cosi and Rhsi.