Physics Spring Colloquium- Organic Mott insulators as hosts of spin and dipole liquids

Abstract: Strong interactions between electrons in solids can result in new states of matter. Typically, these interactions tend to drive a system into a state with some kind of order. If frustration originating from a lattice geometry or competing interactions is present, it tends to prevent this order, leading to quantum disordered phases. In magnetic systems frustration and competing interactions can lead to a spin liquid state. Recently, exotic charge states which appear due to quantum fluctuations of electric dipoles were also predicted.  We use organic layered crystals where molecules carry unpaired spins as model objects to realize and study these quantum states.  I will discuss our recent work on the detection of spin liquid and dipole liquid states of matter using inelastic (Raman) light scattering. 

** Refreshments served from 2:45pm – 3:00pm in PAS 218.  Thank you. **