SFB 1238:  Control and Dynamics of Quantum Materials

• Subject Area: Physics ; Chemistry ; Materials Science and Engineering
• Term: since 2016
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 277146847

Materials-oriented basic research is one of the most important drivers of technological innovation and is thus affecting our everyday lives, albeit often in a concealed manner. At the forefront of this are so-called quantum materials, whose fascinating properties are determined by the laws of quantum mechanics. Quantum materials form a rapidly developing and internationally highly competitive field of research with a high potential for the discovery of new phenomena and concepts. Particularly promising are new materials in which relativistic spin-orbit effects and electronic correlations induce a wealth of ordering phenomena, including superconductivity, magnetism and exotic topological order. Potential applications range from novel quantum computers to more energy-efficient electronics. Over the past funding period our field has seen remarkable progress to which our CRC contributed in a substantial way. These developments are mirrored in five focus areas (FAs) which define our multifaceted approach to research on quantum materials. Triggered by the growing importance of quantum devices and our new capabilities to create devices of topological materials, we formed the FA ‘Topology and devices’. Within FA ‘2D materials and band engineering’ we explore a new strategy to control two-dimensional materials. The intricate interplay of different quantum effects is highlighted in the FA ‘Hybrid quantum matter’, while FA ‘Spin-orbit dominated matter’ focuses on relativistic effects. Finally, FA ‘Driven matter’ searches for novel universal phenomena in systems far from thermal equilibrium. CRC1238 brings together an outstanding team of scientists from experimental and theoretical physics and from crystallography in Cologne, augmented by excellent scientists with indispensable expertise from the University of Bonn and the Forschungszentrum Jülich. In the first funding period, six of our young researchers moved on to tenure-track or tenured positions. Seven new PIs will strengthen the team. They are an essential part of our strategy to promote young scientists, contribute new expertise and define cornerstones of our future research program. Our agenda is complemented by a comprehensive gender and family support program as well as a wide range of public relations and career development measures. Our vision is to discover, understand, and control novel collective phenomena and new functionalities in quantum materials arising from the interplay of spin-orbit-coupling, correlations, and topology.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres

Current projects

• A01 - Electronic correlations and spin-orbit coupling in 2D layers and at interfaces (Project Heads Grüneis, Alexander ;  Lindfors-Vrejoiu, Ionela ;  Michely, Thomas Werner )
• A02 - Crystal growth and design of materials (Project Heads Becker-Bohatý, Petra ;  Braden, Markus ;  Lorenz, Thomas )
• A04 - Topological matter (Project Heads Ando, Ph.D., Yoichi ;  Taskin, Alexey )
• B01 - Transport and thermodynamics (Project Heads Ando, Ph.D., Yoichi ;  Breunig, Oliver ;  Lorenz, Thomas )
• B02 - From mHz to PHz: Broadband dielectric and optical spectroscopy of quantum matter (Project Heads Grüninger, Markus ;  Hemberger, Joachim )
• B03 - Inelastic photon scattering in spin-orbit coupled matter (Project Heads Grüninger, Markus ;  van Loosdrecht, Paul H. M. )
• B04 - Dynamics and correlations studied by neutron scattering (Project Head Braden, Markus )
• B05 - Optically driven matter (Project Heads van Loosdrecht, Paul H. M. ;  Wang, Zhe )
• B06 - Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (Project Heads Ando, Ph.D., Yoichi ;  Brede, Jens ;  Michely, Thomas Werner )
• B07 - Static and dynamic control of excitations in Quantum Anomalous Hall systems (Project Head Bocquillon, Erwann )
• C01 - Structure inversion-asymmetric matter and spin-orbit phenomena from ab-initio (Project Heads Atodiresei, Nicolae ;  Blügel, Stefan )
• C02 - Spin-orbit driven topological and correlated states and Dirac matter (Project Heads Rosch, Achim ;  Scherer, Michael ;  Trebst, Simon )
• C03 - Thermodynamics of fractionalization in spin-orbit entangled matter, (Project Heads Diehl, Sebastian ;  Hickey, Ciarán ;  Trebst, Simon )
• C04 - Dynamics of topological and correlated states of matter (Project Heads Diehl, Sebastian ;  Rosch, Achim )
• C05 - Driven quantum matter (Project Head Kollath, Corinna )
• Z - Central Tasks (Project Head Rosch, Achim )

• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Participating University: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Participating Institution: Forschungszentrum Jülich
• Spokespersons: Professor Dr. Paul H. M. van Loosdrecht, until 6/2020; Professor Dr. Achim Rosch, since 7/2020