Strongly Correlated Electron Systems
The work of the group is concerned with the bewildering variety of phenomena observed in correlated electron systems, such as magnetic order, unconventional superconductivity, charge order, orbital order, colossal magnetoresistance, heavy fermion behaviour, etc. Our goal is to uncover the physical principles behind these phenomena by performing careful experiments and by comparing the results with current theories.
Our current interest is in novel magnetic oxides, especially transition-metal oxides close to Mott insulating phases. In this class of materials there exists an enormous array of different types of nanoscale ordering phenomena, which ultimately control the physical properties of the material. Quantum fluctuations due to low dimensionality, small moments, or magnetic frustration are often important.
The principal experimental techniques used are neutron scattering, carried out at the ILL (France), ISIS and other European facilities (e.g. HMI in Berlin and SINQ in Switzerland) and magnetic x-ray scattering (performed at the ESRF, Diamond and Brookhaven). We also perform magnetometry, transport and heat capacity experiments in Oxford.
Current projects
Prof. Andrew Boothroyd
Clarendon Laboratory
Oxford, OX1 3PU
United Kingdom
phone
+44 (0) 1865 272376
fax
+44 (0) 1865 272400
Magnetic structure of NaxCoO2 (x ~ 0.75)
Crystal Growth of Novel Magnetic Oxides
Much of the experimental work requires single crystal samples. Large, high-quality single crystals are prepared by the floating-zone method in the group's mirror furnace. Click here for more details.
Single crystal of CoNb2O6.
Facilities and Equipment in the Group
The group has access to a range of state-of-the art equipment for sample preparation, characterisation and fundamental measurements.
Image furnace for crystal growth by the floating-zone method