Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/A11717/01
Title:	SUPERCONDUCTIVITY: ON THE VERGE OF MAGNETISM
Principal Investigator:	Saxena, Dr SS
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Physics
Organisation:	University of Cambridge
Scheme:	Advanced Fellowship (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 June 2001	Ends:	31 May 2006	Value (£):	200,014
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:	Panel Date Panel Name Outcome 15 Jan 2001 Materials Advanced Fellowships Interview Panel Deferred 11 Dec 2000 Materials Fellowships Sift Panel Deferred
Summary on Grant Application Form
Current theory of magnetic interactions in metals suggests that superconductivity should arise quite generally on the border of ferromagnetism or anti-ferromagnetism in specimens that are sufficiently pure. To test this I propose to look for superconductivity in selected materials which can be prepared in a pure state and where the border of ferromagnetism or anti-ferromagnetism can be reached with accessible pressures. The pure ferromagnetic metals are of special interest because of their simplicity. The anti-ferromagnetic metals are more difficult to investigate and to describe, but particularly, when their electronic properties take on a quasi two-dimensional form they offer the possibility of much stronger magnetic pairing, and hence much higher superconducting transition temperatures than is possible in the ferromagnets. We have identified a new class of anti-ferromagnetic compounds in which magnetic pairing could be very strong at realistic pressures attainable with current diamond anvil technology. This class consists of layered materials with the chemical formula MCIO, where M stands for a transition metal atom. I proposed to build on my experience gained by working with chemists and physicists in the last few years to prepare these compounds and to study their electronic and magnetic properties with a diamond anvil cell operating up to one million atmospheres This research should provide us with a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of magnetic pairing and could lead us to a new track in the search for superconductivity at elevated temperatures.
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