X-Ray scattering investigations of subtle ordering in correlated materials
Name
922938053-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
15.29 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
ce874627a7cd45342959c08f4b626170
Author(s)
Gardner,Dillon Richard
Advisor(s)
Young S. Lee.
Date Issued
2015
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
The interaction of many particles can lead to spectacular new phases of matter whose properties and collective excitations bear little resemblance to the individual particles and interactions. Understanding how the macroscopic state transforms from one phase to another provides key insights into the underlying physics. In this thesis, we study two poorly understood states: the Hidden Order (HO) phase of URu2Si2 and the pseudogap of high Tc cuprates. In the case of URu2 Si2 , the HO phase causes a significant restructuring of the Fermi surface. Thermal conductivity and ultrasound measurements suggest that the lattice degrees of freedom couple strongly to this change. Additionally, torque magnetometry and x-ray diffraction suggest a breaking of C4 rotational symmetry. We directly study the lattice through x-ray scattering. We see no change of the acoustic phonon dispersions or of the phonon lifetimes from the HO transition. Calculations of phonon branch contributions to thermal transport suggest that magnetic excitations are responsible for the increase in thermal conductivity in the HO phase. For high Tc cuprates, the pseudogap state is not well understood. It is not even clear if it is a true phase transition or if it is a crossover regime. Recent reports of circular dichroism at the copper K-edge in double-layer BSCCO suggest breaking of inversion symmetry in the pseudogap. We perform copper K-edge dichroism measurements on carefully aligned BSCCO. Azimuthal rotations reveal the circular dichroic signal the result of linear bleed through. Polar rotations suggest that the previous reports were likely caused by misalignment.
Description
Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics, 2015.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 117-127).
Subjects
Physics.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
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