Periodic Reporting for period 3 - mVITO (MILLIKELVIN VISUALISATION OF TOPOLOGICAL ORDER)
Período documentado: 2022-01-01 hasta 2023-06-30
Macroscopic quantum states of matter, such as correlated and topological superconductors, topological ferromagnetic and Kondo insulators, quantum monopole and spin liquids, and electron liquid crystals are now at the forefront of physics research. But these exotic forms of quantum matter have proven very difficult to discover, explore and understand - one reason being the lack of instrumentation designed specifically to deal with their novel measurement challenges. To address this issue, we develop and utilize a suite of novel quantum microscopes with different capabilities for direct visualization of quantum matter.
The significance of such research is that macroscopic quantum mechanics now plays a key role in science, and is anticipated to soon become central to 21th century quantum information technology. Discovery, exploration, understanding and application of macroscopic quantum matter is central to achieving that target.
Our overall objectives are thus to invent, develop and apply novel quantum microscopes for direct visualization and quantitative understanding of electronic and magnetic quantum matter.
Specific foci include the search for and exploration of bulk topologic superconductors, understanding of topological ferromagnetic & Kondo insulators, exploration of quantum monopole & spin liquids, and identification of novel electronic liquid crystal states.
The ultimate goal is discovery and communication of the new science revealed by our instruments, in the clearest and simplest appropriate format, to those who can use the knowledge to benefit society.
The significance of such research is that macroscopic quantum mechanics now plays a key role in science, and is anticipated to soon become central to 21th century quantum information technology. Discovery, exploration, understanding and application of macroscopic quantum matter is central to achieving that target.
Our overall objectives are thus to invent, develop and apply novel quantum microscopes for direct visualization and quantitative understanding of electronic and magnetic quantum matter.
Specific foci include the search for and exploration of bulk topologic superconductors, understanding of topological ferromagnetic & Kondo insulators, exploration of quantum monopole & spin liquids, and identification of novel electronic liquid crystal states.
The ultimate goal is discovery and communication of the new science revealed by our instruments, in the clearest and simplest appropriate format, to those who can use the knowledge to benefit society.
The main progress so far includes:
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: Custom microscope technology, cryogenic and microscope components and custom electronics for two quantum microscope have been successfully transferred from Cornell University to Oxford University.
ULV LABORATORY DEVELOPMENT: The ultra-low vibration laboratories for these quantum microscopes at Oxford University have been custom designed, completed fully and made operational.
QUANTUM MICROSCOPE DEVELOPMENT: The custom designs to match the Oxford ULV labs, and the component, UHV, subsystem, cryogenics and and electronics fabrication/purchase for these microscopes has been completed.
DIVERSIFICATION & COLLABORATION: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Oxford physics workshop and tech support teams have either been shut down or under working restrictions since March 2020 and our researchers have been prevented from installation and development of the quantum microscopes. Thus, very slow progress has been made on microscope installation, integration and testing during the last 15 months. It is not known when final installation and testing may begin because work & lab access restrictions are still in place at Oxford University Physics as of July 19, 2021. However, we have diversified collaborative research with laboratories and research groups that retain the capability to carry out experiments for the mVITO research agenda, and this has resulted in maintenance of strong research performance and momentum.
SCIENTIFIC FOCUS: The focus of our ongoing research has been on demonstration of machine learning for scientific discovery using quantum matter visualization (Nature 570, 484 (2019)); on search and discovery of magnetic field-induced electron-pair crystals (Science 364, 976 (2019)); on exploration and discovery of magnetic field noise generated by magnetic monopole plasmas (Nature 571, 234 (2019)); on exploration and measurement of the momentum-space structure of candidate topological superconductors (PNAS 117 , 5222 (2020)); and on search for and discovery of an electron-pair crystal in the transition metal dichalcogenide materials (Science 372, 1447 (2021))
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: Custom microscope technology, cryogenic and microscope components and custom electronics for two quantum microscope have been successfully transferred from Cornell University to Oxford University.
ULV LABORATORY DEVELOPMENT: The ultra-low vibration laboratories for these quantum microscopes at Oxford University have been custom designed, completed fully and made operational.
QUANTUM MICROSCOPE DEVELOPMENT: The custom designs to match the Oxford ULV labs, and the component, UHV, subsystem, cryogenics and and electronics fabrication/purchase for these microscopes has been completed.
DIVERSIFICATION & COLLABORATION: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Oxford physics workshop and tech support teams have either been shut down or under working restrictions since March 2020 and our researchers have been prevented from installation and development of the quantum microscopes. Thus, very slow progress has been made on microscope installation, integration and testing during the last 15 months. It is not known when final installation and testing may begin because work & lab access restrictions are still in place at Oxford University Physics as of July 19, 2021. However, we have diversified collaborative research with laboratories and research groups that retain the capability to carry out experiments for the mVITO research agenda, and this has resulted in maintenance of strong research performance and momentum.
SCIENTIFIC FOCUS: The focus of our ongoing research has been on demonstration of machine learning for scientific discovery using quantum matter visualization (Nature 570, 484 (2019)); on search and discovery of magnetic field-induced electron-pair crystals (Science 364, 976 (2019)); on exploration and discovery of magnetic field noise generated by magnetic monopole plasmas (Nature 571, 234 (2019)); on exploration and measurement of the momentum-space structure of candidate topological superconductors (PNAS 117 , 5222 (2020)); and on search for and discovery of an electron-pair crystal in the transition metal dichalcogenide materials (Science 372, 1447 (2021))
Progress beyond the state of the art included:
Machine Learning for Scientific Discovery in Electronic Quantum Matter: The first demonstration of physics discovery by ML in quantum matter visualization research was a breakthrough that defined the state of the art for this field. Nature 570, 484 (2019).
Discovery of High-field Pair Density Wave State: All previous reports have been of a field-induced charge density wave state in cuprate superconductive materials, so search for a field-induce electron-pair crystal (PDW) state required experimental techniques which greatly advanced the state of the art, and this discovery redirected the theoretical research focus in this field. Science 364, 976 (2019).
Discovery of Magnetic Monopole Noise: The striking demonstration of spontaneous magnetic flux noise generated by a magnetic monopole plasma, using our beyond the state-of-the-art SQUID based spectrometry, has opened many new research avenues for quantum monopole and spin liquid research. Nature 571, 234 (2019)
Momentum Space Structure of Topological Superconductors: Sr2RuO4 has long been the focus of intense research interest because of conjectures that it is a correlated topological superconductor. Millikelvin visualization of the momentum space energy-gap established a new state of the art, and the discovery of B_1g energy-gap symmetry strongly reoriented this field. PNAS 117, 5222 (2020)
Discovery of a PDW State in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide: No electron-pair crystal (PDW) state was known in any a simple material e.g. TMD, because the necessary techniques to detect one did not exist. The first observation of a PDW state in a TMD, based on beyond state-of-the-art scanned Josephson microscopy, has thus opened a highly promising new avenue for PDW research. Science 372, 1447 (2021)
Machine Learning for Scientific Discovery in Electronic Quantum Matter: The first demonstration of physics discovery by ML in quantum matter visualization research was a breakthrough that defined the state of the art for this field. Nature 570, 484 (2019).
Discovery of High-field Pair Density Wave State: All previous reports have been of a field-induced charge density wave state in cuprate superconductive materials, so search for a field-induce electron-pair crystal (PDW) state required experimental techniques which greatly advanced the state of the art, and this discovery redirected the theoretical research focus in this field. Science 364, 976 (2019).
Discovery of Magnetic Monopole Noise: The striking demonstration of spontaneous magnetic flux noise generated by a magnetic monopole plasma, using our beyond the state-of-the-art SQUID based spectrometry, has opened many new research avenues for quantum monopole and spin liquid research. Nature 571, 234 (2019)
Momentum Space Structure of Topological Superconductors: Sr2RuO4 has long been the focus of intense research interest because of conjectures that it is a correlated topological superconductor. Millikelvin visualization of the momentum space energy-gap established a new state of the art, and the discovery of B_1g energy-gap symmetry strongly reoriented this field. PNAS 117, 5222 (2020)
Discovery of a PDW State in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide: No electron-pair crystal (PDW) state was known in any a simple material e.g. TMD, because the necessary techniques to detect one did not exist. The first observation of a PDW state in a TMD, based on beyond state-of-the-art scanned Josephson microscopy, has thus opened a highly promising new avenue for PDW research. Science 372, 1447 (2021)