Neutron Scattering Studies of Complex Oxides
Ivelisse Cabrera (NIST Center for Neutron Research)
One of the fundamental quests in condensed matter physics concerns understanding the collective behavior of electrons in complex materials and the potentially rich and novel phases that could arise due to competing interactions, multiple degrees of freedom, or quantum fluctuations. In this talk, I will present examples of complex oxides where the cooperative behavior of electrons results in unusual ground states and dynamics. Based on magnetic neutron diffraction and pyroelectric current measurements, I will discuss the correspondence between ferroelectric and magnetic domains in multiferroics. These domains can be controlled by an external electric field, as demonstrated in the multiferroic Ni3V2O8. Additionally, I will present neutron scattering measurements of the quasi-1D Ising ferromagnet CoNb2O6 which unveil how the magnetic order and excitations evolve in the very close proximity of its quantum critical point, as driven by a transverse magnetic field. Near criticality, an essentially gapless spectrum is observed with an almost perfectly-linear dispersion along the chain direction. To our knowledge, this is the first time that these features, which were predicted for an Ising chain in a transverse field at criticality, have been observed. Future research opportunities of complex oxides using neutron scattering techniques will also be presented.
Back to Seminar Home Page
Last modified 23-November-2015 by website owner: NCNR (attn: )
