Stability study of the pyrochlore iridate metal-insulator transition

Abstract

We seek strain controllable metal insulator transitions(MIT) for use in device applications. This proposal focuses on theoretical calculations on pyrochlore iridate materials geared towards testing a frustration mechanism of such control. We hypothesize that both metallic and insulating forms of magnetism are competing for the ground state due to the special geometry of the lattice. Strain would then distort the geometry and select one of these forms of magnetism and in doing so whether the system is metallic or insulating. Should our calculations predict either this frustration control mechanism or as a byproduct an electronic structure mechanism, we will obtain strong motivation to conduct a future theory-experiment study seeking strain controllable MITs.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Aug 12, 2016
Source ID
N000141512760

Entities

People

  • Michael Lawler

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • Research Foundation for the State University of New York
  • United States Navy

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Quantum Dot Semiconductor Device Photonics and Graphene Optoelectronic Materials and THz Physics.
  • Theoretical Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Microelectronics - Graphene