PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Langbeinites show talents as 3D quantum spin liquids

With neutron experiments and theoretical modelling, an international team uncovered 3D QSL behavior in Nickel Langbeinite

Langbeinites show talents as 3D quantum spin liquids
2024-08-23
(Press-News.org) A 3D quantum spin liquid has been discovered in the vicinity of a member of the langbeinite family. The material's specific crystalline structure and the resulting magnetic interactions induce an unusual behaviour that can be traced back to an island of liquidity. An international team has made this discovery with experiments at the ISIS neutron source and theoretical modelling on a nickel-langbeinite sample.

When spins in a crystal lattice cannot align to reach a minimum energy together, this is called magnetic frustration. If this frustration becomes large enough, the spins continue to fluctuate in a disordered way, even as the temperature approaches zero and the material behaves as a quantum spin liquid. Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) have remarkable properties, including topologically protected phenomena, potentially useful, for example, for future, particularly stable qubits. Initially, quantum spin liquids were mainly studied in two-dimensional structures, but the phenomenon can also occur in 3D structures, although much less frequently.

The search for frustration An international collaboration has now demonstrated this behaviour in a new class of materials with a 3D structure: Langbeinites are sulphate minerals, rarely found in nature; replacing one or two elements in the sum formula produces variations that all belong to this class of materials.

Artificial langbeinite crystals with the molecular formula K2Ni2(SO4)3 were created for the study. The magnetic element nickel plays a key role here: the nickel ions form two so-called trillium lattices that are entangled with each other. This creates the desired magnetic frustration, which is further enhanced when an external magnetic field is applied: The magnetic moments of the nickel ions cannot all align in an energetically favourable way, but fluctuate and form a quantum spin liquid.

Neutron data and theory: a nearly perfect fit The team led by Ivica Živkovič at the EPFL was able to measure the magnetic fluctuations at the British neutron source ISIS in Oxford. The samples behave like a quantum spin liquid, not only at extremely low temperatures, but even at "lukewarm" 2 Kelvin.

The team led by HZB theorist Johannes Reuther was able to explain the measured data using several theoretical methods. "Our theoretical phase diagram even identifies an "island of liquidity" at the centre of a strongly frustrated tetratrillium lattice," says Matias Gonzalez, first author of the study and postdoctoral researcher in Reuther's team, who carried out the Monte Carlo simulations. PhD student Vincent Noculak calculated the interactions between the spins using a method based on Feynman diagrams that Reuther developed several years ago (pseudo-fermion function renormalisation group, PFFRG). The agreement between the measured data and the theoretical results is surprisingly good. "Despite its extremely complex interactions, we can reproduce this system very well," says Reuther.

QSL-candidates in the Langbeinites Langbeinites are a large and largely unexplored class of materials. The study shows that the search for quantum behaviour can be worthwhile here. The team led by HZB physicist Bella Lake has already synthesised new representatives of this class of materials, which could also be regarded as 3D quantum spin liquids. "This is still purely fundamental science," emphasises Johannes Reuther, "but with the growing interest in new types of quantum materials, the Langbeinite materials could become interesting for applications in quantum information."

 

 

arö

END

[Attachments] See images for this press release:
Langbeinites show talents as 3D quantum spin liquids Langbeinites show talents as 3D quantum spin liquids 2 Langbeinites show talents as 3D quantum spin liquids 3

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

VA funds IU School of Medicine research projects relevant to veterans’ health

2024-08-23
INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have cumulatively been awarded nearly $4 million in grant funding through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Merit Review Award and Career Development programs to support research on diabetes, skin inflammation, cancer and aging. The Merit Review Award Program supports investigator-initiated research conducted by eligible VA investigators at either VA medical centers or approved sites. This program serves as the VA's primary method for funding basic, preclinical, ...

Researchers identify effective materials for protecting astronauts from harmful cosmic radiation on Mars

2024-08-23
Abu Dhabi, August 23, 2024: Researchers have identified specific materials, including certain plastics, rubber, and synthetic fibers, as well as Martian soil (regolith), which would effectively protect astronauts by blocking harmful space radiation on Mars. These findings could inform the design of protective habitats and spacesuits, making long-duration Mars missions more feasible. Because Mars lacks Earth’s thick atmosphere and magnetic field, astronauts exploring the planet would be exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. Dimitra Atri, Investigator, ...

People seen as wise share these characteristics, according to a new study

2024-08-23
What makes someone seem wise? People view wisdom through the lens of applying knowledge and thinking logically as well as considering others’ feelings and perceptions, finds a new study led by University of Waterloo researchers who looked at perceptions of wisdom across 12 countries and five continents.  Researchers examined the underlying principles guiding who we perceive as wise in political leadership, science, and daily life. Across different cultures, participants’ judgements converged on two dimensions: reflective orientation and ...

Activated bamboo charcoal’s slow-release properties for enhanced anti-acne formulations containing bamboo vinegar

Activated bamboo charcoal’s slow-release properties for enhanced anti-acne formulations containing bamboo vinegar
2024-08-23
Bamboo vinegar is a concentrated liquid obtained from bamboo under high temperature and anaerobic conditions. It contains more than 200 organic components, including organic acids, phenols, ketones, alcohols, and esters, among which acetic acid is the main component. Although bamboo vinegar has been approved by the China Food and Drug Administration as a cosmetic raw material, commercially available bamboo vinegar often contains impurities whose efficacy is not clear, and phenolic compounds and aromatic hydrocarbons ...

When is the best time of day for cancer treatment?

When is the best time of day for cancer treatment?
2024-08-23
How effective medications are depends on various factors, including the time of day when they are administered. Why? Because our bodies don’t always function exactly the same. Instead, they follow the cycle set by their internal clock, otherwise known as circadian rhythm. But since each person’s circadian rhythm is different and depends on a number of different factors, it is difficult to tailor medication schedules to an individual patient’s body clock. Researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have now developed a method for determining the optimum time of cancer treatment based on certain breast cancer ...

Rates of obesity-related cancer are rising sharply in young Chinese people

2024-08-23
Obesity-related cancer rates in China were rising at an alarming 3.6% every year between 2007 and 2021 while non-obesity-related cancers remained stable, according to the first comprehensive study published August 22 in the Cell Press journal Med. The increase is particularly pronounced among young people, highlighting the urgent need for better public health policies to address China’s growing overweight and obesity rates. “If we don’t drastically change the obesity epidemic, the rates of cancer associated with obesity will inevitably continue to rise,” says Jin-Kui Yang, the paper’s corresponding author and an endocrinologist ...

Neighborhood-level disparities in hypertension prevalence and treatment among middle-aged adults

2024-08-23
About The Study: Researchers found corresponding increases in hypertension prevalence as neighborhood disadvantage and the percentage of Black patients residing in a neighborhood increased in this cross-sectional study. A higher burden of midlife hypertension was identified in Black adults compared with other racial and ethnic groups that persisted across levels of socioeconomic disadvantage. This study also found that living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods was associated with higher hypertension ...

Strength training activates cellular waste disposal

Strength training activates cellular waste disposal
2024-08-23
The elimination of damaged cell components is essential for the maintenance of the body’s tissues and organs. An international research team led by the University of Bonn has made significant findings on mechanisms for the clearing of cellular wastes, showing that strength training activates such mechanisms. The findings could form the basis for new therapies for heart failure and nerve diseases, and even afford benefits for manned space missions. A corresponding article has been published in the latest issue of the journal Current Biology. EMBARGOED: Do not publish until 5 pm CEST ...

Water activation induced strong interfacial hydrogen bonding interactions for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Water activation induced strong interfacial hydrogen bonding interactions for efficient oxygen reduction reaction
2024-08-23
Exploring new energy storage and conversion technologies is crucial for sustainable human development. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and metal-air batteries are particularly promising due to their high energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. A key component in these technologies is the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst. Traditionally, ORR catalysts rely on expensive platinum group metals (PGM), which are cost-prohibitive for widespread use. This has spurred interest in developing non-precious metal alternatives, such as transition metal/nitrogen-doped carbon-based materials (M–N–C). Among these, Fe–N–C ...

Temperature regulates negative supercoils to modulate meiotic crossovers and chromosome organization

2024-08-23
This study is led by Prof. Shunxin Wang (State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Institute of Women, Children and Reproductive Health, Shandong University) and Prof. Liangran Zhang (Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University). In their study of meiosis in budding yeast, the research team found that yeast senses temperature changes by increasing the level of DNA negative supercoils to increase crossovers and modulate chromosome organization ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Optical biosensor rapidly detects monkeypox virus

New drug targets for Alzheimer’s identified from cerebrospinal fluid

Neuro-oncology experts reveal how to use AI to improve brain cancer diagnosis, monitoring, treatment

Argonne to explore novel ways to fight cancer and transform vaccine discovery with over $21 million from ARPA-H

Firefighters exposed to chemicals linked with breast cancer

Addressing the rural mental health crisis via telehealth

Standardized autism screening during pediatric well visits identified more, younger children with high likelihood for autism diagnosis

Researchers shed light on skin tone bias in breast cancer imaging

Study finds humidity diminishes daytime cooling gains in urban green spaces

Tennessee RiverLine secures $500,000 Appalachian Regional Commission Grant for river experience planning and design standards

AI tool ‘sees’ cancer gene signatures in biopsy images

Answer ALS releases world's largest ALS patient-based iPSC and bio data repository

2024 Joseph A. Johnson Award Goes to Johns Hopkins University Assistant Professor Danielle Speller

Slow editing of protein blueprints leads to cell death

Industrial air pollution triggers ice formation in clouds, reducing cloud cover and boosting snowfall

Emerging alternatives to reduce animal testing show promise

Presenting Evo – a model for decoding and designing genetic sequences

Global plastic waste set to double by 2050, but new study offers blueprint for significant reductions

Industrial snow: Factories trigger local snowfall by freezing clouds

Backyard birds learn from their new neighbors when moving house

New study in Science finds that just four global policies could eliminate more than 90% of plastic waste and 30% of linked carbon emissions by 2050

Breakthrough in capturing 'hot' CO2 from industrial exhaust

New discovery enables gene therapy for muscular dystrophies, other disorders

Anti-anxiety and hallucination-like effects of psychedelics mediated by distinct neural circuits

How do microbiomes influence the study of life?

Plant roots change their growth pattern during ‘puberty’

Study outlines key role of national and EU policy to control emissions from German hydrogen economy

Beloved Disney classics convey an idealized image of fatherhood

Sensitive ceramics for soft robotics

Trends in hospitalizations and liver transplants associated with alcohol-induced liver disease

[Press-News.org] Langbeinites show talents as 3D quantum spin liquids
With neutron experiments and theoretical modelling, an international team uncovered 3D QSL behavior in Nickel Langbeinite