FeTOP · Topology in the correlated Fe-based superconductors

Topology in the correlated Fe-based superconductors

Electrons in materials repel each other through the Coulomb interaction. The strength of this interaction governs many properties of the material and can be decisive in determining if the material is, e.g., a conductor or an insulator. However, the question of how the Coulomb repulsion affects the topological properties of a material - attributes that are thought to be independent of the details of the electronic behaviour - has not yet been answered. In this project, I will study an example class of materials - known as kagome metals - that are presumed to exhibit topological properties and provide a framework within which to address this question. This constitutes an important step in understanding the fundamental properties of materials and will allow for the development of theories that elucidate the interplay between electronic interactions and topological properties. Such progress holds tremendous promise for society as a whole. Materials exhibiting topological properties can revolutionize the form and function of our modern computers by introducing new ways of storing information and by permitting the design of so-called quantum computers. In this context, the impact of the electronic Coulomb repulsion can rarely be neglected and consequently, understanding how it impacts the topological properties of a material is crucial to advancing the field to the stage where it can have a real-world impact. The overall objective of the project is to provide a theoretical basis for understanding topological phenomena in materials that are governed by electronic interactions, so-called correlated materials. This is achieved through three complementary approaches which (1) Describe how such topological properties arise in the first place, (2) how they are affected once interactions become dominant, and (3) how their presence can be unambiguously detected. These objectives have been addressed in a series of four peer-reviewed publications that are freely available. In summary, these describe how interactions can result in specific states of matter in the kagome metals and how specific experiments can be designed to detect these phases. Interactions lead to both superconductivity and a so-called charge order - where the electronic density increases around specific atoms in the lattice - and the publications detail the relationship between the two and how they are affected by disorder and details of the electronic structure.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз