| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R62588/01 |
| Title: |
Quantum criticality and novel quantum order in correlated electron systems |
| Principal Investigator: |
MacKenzie, Professor AP |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Physics and Astronomy |
| Organisation: |
University of St Andrews |
| Scheme: |
JREI |
| Starts: |
01 December 2001 |
Ends: |
30 November 2004 |
Value (£): |
157,606
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| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The problem of a dense assembly of electrons in solids is central to modern physics. In many cases, electron-electron interactions cannot be ignored, and the motion of each electron is strongly correlated with that of all the others, with spectacular consequences. Unconventional superconductivity and magnetism, metal-insulator transitions and other exotic ground states have all been observed. Our joint research programme is aimed at obtaining a unified. framework for understanding these apparently diverse phenomena. Arguably the most promising underlying concept to have emerged in the past two decades is that of quantum criticality. Depressing the characteristic temperature of a critical point towards zero leads to divergent fluctuations that destroy conventional metallic states, leaving the system open to forming novel, `protected' many-body states showing subtle forms of order. To understand these effects properly, we need to study power law behaviour of a range of physical properties over decades of temperature. This is difficult with conventional cryogenic systems, but the adiabatic demagnetisation refrigerators that we propose to purchase are ideally suited to the task, offering continuous, precise control of temperature between 50 mK and 50 K. Our research has relevance to both pure science and the development of 21St century technology.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.st-and.ac.uk |