Theoretical Investigation of Quantum Materials: Superconductors, Dirac-Weyl Semimetals and other Graphene-like Materials

量子材料的理论研究：超导体、狄拉克-韦尔半金属和其他类石墨烯材料

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-03931
• 负责人: Nicol, Elisabeth
• 金额: $ 3.35万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=710025
• 关键词: Theoretical; Investigation; Quantum; Materials; Superconductors

Quantum materials are essential to the technologies of our modern world. This research program addresses two major areas of quantum materials research. One is the potential for discovery and understanding of superconductors operating at near room temperature. Superconductors are currently used in MRI machines in hospitals and are being developed for power transmission cables and magnetically-levitated high speed trains, among other applications. The current generation of materials only operates at very low temperature near -270oC requiring expensive liquid helium which is also in limited supply. Vast improvements could occur with the discovery of near room temperature superconductors, which would need little or no cooling. We are investigating mechanisms in materials that can give rise to such possibilities. A second direction is the investigation of so-called Dirac-Weyl materials. The recent discovery of such materials (graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, is a prominent example) has pushed the development of new technologies for solar cells, flexible electronics, quantum computing, salt water filtration and more. This research program proposes a new direction for materials discovery by considering the possibility of new systems which we call hybrid pseudospin Dirac materials. These systems could have novel properties relevant to technology. Along with these systems, the realm of newly discovered exotic graphene-like materials such as Weyl semimetals, topological insulators, and others, will be investigated theoretically for many properties. Particular emphasis will be on optical response which may be relevant to optoelectronics applications. Graduate students and other highly qualified personnel will receive high-level training for eventual careers in industry and academia. This research program is expected to contribute to the rapid development of new quantum materials important to technology and society.

量子材料对于我们现代世界的技术至关重要。该研究计划涉及量子材料研究的两个主要领域。一种是发现和理解在近室温下运行的超导体的潜力。超导体目前用于医院的MRI机器，并正在开发用于传输电缆和磁性电视的高速列车以及其他应用。当前的材料仅在非常低的温度下运行-270oC，需要昂贵的液态氦气，这也有限。发现近室温超导体可能需要几乎需要或根本冷却时，可能会发生巨大的改进。我们正在研究可能引起这种可能性的材料机制。第二个方向是研究所谓的狄拉克 - 韦尔材料。最近发现此类材料（石墨烯是单层碳原子，是一个突出的例子），推动了用于太阳能电池，柔性电子，量子计算，盐水过滤等新技术的开发。该研究计划通过考虑我们称为混合伪源dirac材料的新系统的可能性，提出了一个新的材料发现方向。这些系统可能具有与技术相关的新型属性。与这些系统一起，将在理论上研究许多特性的新发现的异国石墨烯样材料，例如Weyl半法，拓扑绝缘子等。特别强调的是与光电应用有关的光学响应。研究生和其他高素质的人员将接受高级培训，以实现行业和学术界的最终职业。预计该研究计划将有助于对技术和社会重要的新量子材料的快速发展。