Quantum Magnetism in Quasi-Two-Dimensional Rare-Earth Oxides: Neutron Scattering and Instrumentation

Abstract

Quantum magnetism is a rich area of hard condensed matter physics where various energy scales and exchange parameters, coupled with lattice symmetries, lead to ground states of varying degrees of complexity. Through theoretical and experimental efforts, realizations of quantum many-body phenomena are found. This thesis presents recent work on several candidate materials which have been theoretically proposed to exhibit exotic states of matter as their ground state. These materials are carefully characterized using various theoretical and experimental means such as linear spin wave theory and inelastic neutron scattering to understand their ground states. In addition, work presented here displays effort to characterize, optimize, and design new neutron scattering instruments.