“Combinatorial strategy for condensed matter physics: study on rare earth hexaborides thin films”

Dr. Seunghun Lee
Department of Physics, Pukyong National University

Jun. 10 (Fri.), 02:30 PM
E6-2. 1st fl. #1323

Abstract:
In condensed matter physics, we all are interested in the physical properties of materials and seek to understand physics therein. We traverse a series of individual samples with a systematic variation of interest (e.g., composition, defect concentration, or thickness of a specific layer in layered systems) on purposes — Edisonian approach. However, the limited number of samples sometimes renders it challenging to chase a correlation between variables and physical properties or to catch a subtle point. In addition, the effect of inevitable unintentional variation across individual samples cannot be completely ruled out. In this talk, I will introduce combinatorial strategy, which is a way to overcome the problems and puzzling situation mentioned above and thus accelerates the discovery of exotic physics and functional materials. Some examples of recent work with combinatorial strategy will be presented. In particular, I will present the work on rare earth hexaborides thin films: 1) observation of perfect Andreev reflection in topological superconducting SmB6/YB6 thin films and 2) disorder-driven negative magneto-resistance and anomalous Hall effect in EuB6 thin films, a possible Weyl semimetal.