Research Overview

Keywords: quantum magnetism, strongly correlated electrons, x-ray and neutron magnetic scattering, spintronics, low-temperature electrical and magnetic transport, optical spectroscopies under high pressure.

The central theme of our research is to experimentally develop and verify emergent phenomena rising from many-body correlations in quantum spin systems. Generally speaking, when long-range magnetic orders are destabilized due to competing interactions, the resulting ground state can no longer be uniquely described by symmetry and symmetry-breaking. Instead, the topological structure becomes relevant and, if it is nontrivial, properties such as quantum superposition and long-range entanglement can be promisingly achieved. 

Our experimental program seeks to approach the regime described above in solid-state systems by either external control parameters or intrinsic high degrees of degeneracy, where we employ and develop a broad array of techniques to probe emerging properties. The topics we are interested in are broadly defined, including but not limited to spin fluctuations across electronic phase transitions (e.g., superconductivity, metal-insulator transitions), quantum criticality in the strong-coupling regime, emergent quasiparticles in frustrated magnets and strongly correlated metals. To address those diverse scientific topics concerning ground states, excitations, and quasi- to non-equilibrium dynamics, the techniques being employed or under development include time-resolved neutron scattering, inelastic neutron spectroscopy, x-ray magnetic diffraction and optical Raman spectroscopy under high pressure, audio-frequency electrical and magnetic transport down to mK-range, and spintronic devices tailored for one-dimensional spin-chain systems.