SFB 608:  Complex Transition Metal Compounds with Spin and Charge Degrees of Freedom, and Disorder

• Subject Area: Physics
• Term: from 2002 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5485104

The area of research of the collaborative research centre 608 is "complex transition metal compounds" in which strong correlations within partially filled internal shells are essential for the physics of the spin, charge, and orbital degrees of freedom. Ordering of these degrees of freedom, their fluctuations, mutual interactions and coupling to the lattice lead to a rich variety of phenomena. In addition, disorder plays an important role. The research addresses basic questions in complex many body systems, in particular the role of electron-electron interactions and the interplay between electronic and lattice degrees of freedom in solids. Research topics are: charge ordering; orbital ordering and orbital fluctuations; quantum spin systems with unconventional ground states or excitations; anomalous metallic states and non-Fermi-liquid behaviour; unconventional superconductors. These topics are studied with a broad spectrum of experimental and theoretical methods from solid state physics, crystallography, and inorganic chemistry, as well as thin film techniques.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• International Connection: USA

Completed projects

• A01 - Model systems and new materials: crystal growth, characterisation and structural determination (Project Heads Becker-Bohatý, Petra ;  Bohatý, Ladislav ;  Braden, Markus ;  Lorenz, Thomas )
• A02 - Halides of outer and inner transition metals / Complex oxides of 3d-transition metals (Project Heads Meyer, Gerd ;  Möller, Angela )
• A04 - Design of new materials and new material properties by ultra thin films and multi-layer systems (Project Heads Michely, Thomas Werner ;  Tjeng, Liu Hao )
• B01 - Electrical and thermal transport in complex transition metal compounds (Project Heads Abd-Elmeguid, Mohsen ;  Lorenz, Thomas ;  Sologubenko, Alexandr )
• B2 - Hochdruckuntersuchungen (Project Heads Abd-Elmeguid, Mohsen ;  Micklitz, Hans )
• B03 - Thermodynamic and magnetic properties of complex transition metal compounds (Project Heads Hemberger, Joachim ;  Lorenz, Thomas )
• C01 - Optical spectroscopy on strongly correlated transition-metal oxides (Project Heads Grüninger, Markus ;  Hemberger, Joachim )
• C02 - Neutron scattering on phonons and magnetic excitations in correlated materials (Project Head Braden, Markus )
• C03 - Electron spectroscopy on strongly correlated solid state systems, thin films and surfaces (Project Heads Busse, Carsten ;  Hu, Zhiwei ;  Michely, Thomas Werner ;  Tjeng, Liu Hao )
• C04 - Anomalous scattering of soft x-rays: Spectroscopically-resolved structure studies (Project Heads Braden, Markus ;  Schüßler-Langeheine, Christian ;  Tjeng, Liu Hao )
• C05 - Nonlinear optics of magnetoelectric correlations in multiferroics (Project Heads Fiebig, Manfred ;  Lottermoser, Thomas )
• D01 - Theorie orbitaler, magnetischer und phononischer Freiheitsgrade in Übergangsmetalloxidsystemen (Project Heads Müller-Hartmann, Erwin ;  Uhrig, Götz S. )
• D02 - Numerische Untersuchungen dynamischer und thermodynamischer Eigenschaften stark korrelierter Systeme (Project Heads Löw, Ute ;  Schadschneider, Andreas ;  Uhrig, Götz S. )
• D03 - Analytische Untersuchungen von Quantenspin- und Fermionensystemen (Project Heads Rosch, Achim ;  Schadschneider, Andreas ;  Zittartz, Johannes )
• D04 - Disorder and quantum fluctuations in effective field theories for highly correlated materials (Project Head Nattermann, Thomas )
• D5 - Nichtgleichgewichtseffekte in stark korrelierten Systemen (Project Head Monien, Hartmut )
• D07 - Heat, charge and spin transport in spin systems and almost magnetic materials (Project Heads Rosch, Achim ;  Vojta, Matthias )
• D08 - Inhomogenitäten in stark korrelierten Elektronensystemen (Project Head Kroha, Johann )
• D09 - Ab-initio and model calculations of the electronic structure of strongly correlated oxides (Project Heads Bulla, Ralf ;  Tjeng, Liu Hao )
• D10 - Quantum criticality and geometric frustration in strongly correlated systems (Project Head Vojta, Matthias )
• D11 - Charge, spin, and orbital degrees of freedom in transition metal compounds: Strong correlations and competing phases (Project Heads Rosch, Achim ;  Vojta, Matthias )
• D12 - Quantum impurities in correlated metals and insulators (Project Heads Bulla, Ralf ;  Kroha, Johann ;  Vojta, Matthias )
• D13 - Heterostructures, surfaces and domain walls in correlated systems (Project Heads Kroha, Johann ;  Rosch, Achim )
• S - Central Administration (Project Heads Freimuth, Axel ;  Rosch, Achim ;  Tjeng, Liu Hao )

• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Participating University: Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
• Spokespersons: Professor Dr. Axel Freimuth, from 1/2002 until 12/2006; Professor Dr. Achim Rosch, since 12/2006