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SUMMARY:Quantum Criticality in Ferroelectrics - Stephen Rowley\, Leszek Sp
 alek
DTSTART:20070604T150000Z
DTEND:20070604T160000Z
UID:TALK7249@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Paul Eastham
DESCRIPTION:Materials tuned to the neighbourhood of a zero temperature pha
 se transition often show the emergence of novel quantum phenomena. Much of
  the effort to study these new emergent effects\, like the break down of t
 he conventional Fermi-liquid theory of metals\, has been focused in narrow
  band electronic systems. Ferroelectric crystals provide another class of 
 materials in which to study quantum criticality and its resulting effects.
  In many cases the ferroelectric phase can be tuned to absolute zero using
  hydrostatic pressure.  Close to such a zero temperature phase transition\
 , the dielectric constant and other quantities change into radically uncon
 ventional forms due to the fluctuations experienced in this region. Measur
 ements in pure single crystals of SrTi16O3 and SrTi18O3 will be shown and 
 a simple model for describing the Ferroelectric quantum critical point wil
 l be outlined. The expected 1/T^2 dependence of the dielectric constant in
  SrTi16O3 over a wide temperature range at low temperatures will be highli
 ghted as well as some further novel features.  Looking to the future\, one
  might imagine that quantum paraelectric fluctuations could lead to new lo
 w temperature states and mediate novel interactions in ferroelectric cryst
 als supporting itinerant electrons.\n
LOCATION:TCM Seminar Room\, Cavendish Laboratory
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