Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Thermal and Electrical Transport in Correlated Quantum Materials

Project description

Developing new tools and methods to study exotic properties of novel quantum materials

The field of condensed matter physics dealing with liquids and solids is focussed on the emergent properties of matter at large scales. Strongly correlated electron systems are an important class of quantum materials that exhibit exotic electronic and magnetic properties difficult to explain with the non-interacting properties of their constituents. The quantum properties of exotic materials such as semimetals and superconductors have a direct impact on the transport of electrons and heat. While most of the research regarding condensed matter has focussed on quantum ground state properties, quantum states of matter with different patterns of long-range entanglements could have important applications. The EU-funded TRANSPORT project is developing tools and protocols to study heat and electron transport in important quantum systems.

Objective

The last decade has witnessed a revolution in the prediction and understanding of new phases of matter characterized by topology and entanglement. This includes topological insulators, semimetals, superconductors, quantum spin liquids, topological Kondo systems, etc.. However, most of the theory is directed at the classification of ground state properties and elementary excitations, and most successful experiments are spectroscopic. The big frontier is transport. The latter is the key for nearly all applications in condensed matter. It is also the most sensitive probe, and gives access to the lowest frequencies and energies. Yet its understanding remains much more primitive than that of many techniques, at a time when the body of transport experiments is rapidly growing. Responding to the need to tackle this problem extensively, the proposed ERC will provide a broad and detailed understanding of heat and electrical transport in a wide variety of quantum systems in various regimes: quantum magnets at low/high temperatures, near critical points, and semimetals. It will provide key tools and guidelines to study and understand transport in experiments.
I propose to focus on two goals that I deem most direly needed for the understanding of transport: 1. Develop the theory of thermal conductivity in complex magnets, both in quantum spin liquids and more generally at high temperatures and quantum critical points, 2. Investigate transport in novel conducting and superconducting states with controllable topology induced by spontaneous symmetry breaking phenomena.
Achieving these goals will enable informed interpretation of a growing body of modern experiments on correlated states. The proposed work will add to fundamental theory, develop new tools and methodologies, and forge ties to specific experiments, laying the groundwork for future applications. It will train students and postdocs in cutting-edge theory and the art of applying it to quantum materials.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-STG - Starting Grant

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2019-STG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 438 750,00
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 438 750,00

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0