Research

My research focuses on magnetism in quantum materials, with a particular emphasis on how crystal structure, electronic correlations, and orbital degrees of freedom conspire to produce unconventional ground states. I combine crystal growth, X-ray diffraction, and thermodynamic/transport measurements with collaborative studies using advanced probes (neutron scattering, µSR, synchrotron techniques). 

1. Low-Dimensional and Frustrated Magnetism

Reduced dimensionality and frustration often stabilize exotic spin states not found in conventional magnets. I study:

• Zigzag spin-1/2 chains in compounds such as ACoV₂O₇ (A = Ca, Sr, Zn), where competing exchange interactions lead to frustration and unconventional ground states.

• Emergence of long-range antiferromagnetism, quantum critical behavior, or spin-glass freezing depending on dimensionality, anisotropy, and disorder.

• The broader role of low connectivity lattices in enabling spin-liquid-like fluctuations.

2. Face-Sharing Octahedra: Dimers and Trimers

Hexagonal perovskites with face-sharing transition-metal octahedra provide a unique setting where short metal–metal distances drive strong orbital overlap:

• CoO₆ dimers and Rh/Ir-based trimers act as molecular-like units, leading to bond-centered magnetism and orbital-selective physics.

• Competition between localized moments and molecular orbital formation can give rise to orbital-selective Mott states.

• Investigations of compounds such as Ba₃SbCo₂O₉, Ba₄SbRh₃O₁₂, and Ba₄NbIr₃O₁₂ reveal diverse electronic and magnetic ground states.

3. Correlated Electron Phenomena

The coexistence of strong Coulomb interactions and structural motifs produces complex correlated states:

• Localized versus itinerant behavior tuned by orbital hybridization.

• Orbital-selective Mott transitions, where some orbitals remain localized while others delocalize.

• Role of oxygen vacancies and cation disorder in modifying exchange pathways, leading to cluster spin-glass states.

4. Experimental Toolkit

• Crystal growth: optical floating-zone, flux, and solid-state synthesis.

• Structural studies: powder and single-crystal XRD, Laue diffraction.

• Physical property measurements: magnetization (MPMS), heat capacity and transport (PPMS).

• Collaborations: neutron scattering, muon spin rotation (µSR), synchrotron X-ray techniques.

Research Vision

Through these studies, I aim to uncover guiding principles that connect crystal chemistry, orbital physics, and magnetism. The ultimate goal is to identify and understand new emergent states of matter—from quantum spin liquids and orbital-selective Mott states to unconventional spin-glass phases—arising from the delicate balance of structure, correlation, and dimensionality.