Research Projects

Transition metal oxides (TMO) provide a promising environment for developing quantum magnetic phases due to their specific spin arrangement geometry, which results in magnetic frustration. The triangular lattice is the simplest geometry that hosts a frustrated magnetic state, which enhances quantum fluctuations and keeps spins in a quantum disordered state, like a spin liquid state. Finding a spin liquid candidate material is challenging due to small disorder affecting its ground state, low temperature behavior, and no clear experimental signature. Despite these challenges, frustrated magnets and spin liquids are a popular area of research in condensed matter physics. This project aims to synthesize new frustrated magnets, such as single crystals of Ba3Cu(Nb/Ta)2O9 materials, using the flux growth technique. These materials host perfect magnetic triangular layers of Cu2+ separated by two nonmagnetic layers. The magnetic properties of these end members will be explored via low temperature magnetization. The project will combine experimental expertise in single crystal growth, x-ray diffraction, and bulk magnetization measurements to explore novel magnetic properties linked to strong correlation effects, low-dimensionality, and geometric frustration in Ba3Cu(Nb/Ta)2O9 materials. An optimized synthesis route for single crystals of Ba3Cu(Nb/Ta)2O9 materials will be developed. This work may lead to further theoretical and experimental investigation of these materials, providing a better understanding of triangular lattice frustrated magnets.

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