Hitesh Changlani to model electrons in quantum materials

Modeling Electrons in Quantum Materials

Physicist Hitesh Changlani of Florida State University has been awarded a $2 million Department of Energy grant—shared with Brown University’s Kemp Plumb—to explore how electrons behave in quantum materials when those materials are driven out of equilibrium. The project blends neutron‑scattering measurements at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) with large‑scale computer simulations run on FSU’s Research Computing Center. By visualizing electron‑spin arrangements in real time, the team hopes to uncover pathways for steering quantum states toward more efficient technologies.

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Why Out‑of‑Equilibrium Matters

Most of what we know about quantum materials—high‑temperature superconductors, quantum spin liquids, altermagnets—comes from studies of equilibrium conditions, where forces are balanced and the system is static. Real‑world applications, however, often push materials far from equilibrium: rapid temperature changes, electric pulses, or magnetic field sweeps can trigger new phases with potentially useful properties such as transient superconductivity or enhanced energy transport. Understanding these fleeting states requires tools that can capture dynamic spin configurations as they evolve.

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Neutron Scattering as a Quantum Microscope

Neutron scattering works much like medical imaging for materials. A beam of neutrons is directed at a sample; the neutrons scatter off atomic nuclei and magnetic moments, losing or gaining energy in the process. By measuring the energy and angle of the scattered neutrons, researchers reconstruct the spatial and temporal arrangement of electron spins. This technique has already mapped static spin textures in cuprate superconductors and quantum spin liquids. Extending it to time‑resolved, out‑of‑equilibrium experiments is a frontier challenge that Changlani’s team aims to meet.

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Computational Modeling Meets Experiment

The grant allocates roughly $800,000 for work at FSU and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, with the remainder supporting neutron‑scattering beam time at ORNL. Changlani will develop high‑performance simulations that predict how electron correlations respond to external perturbations. These models will be calibrated against the experimental data, creating a feedback loop: simulations guide experiment design, and measurements refine the theoretical description. The collaboration leverages expertise built since 2016 at Johns Hopkins, now spanning Florida State, Brown, and national laboratory resources.

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Potential Impact on Technology

If successful, the research could inform the design of more efficient quantum devices:

• Superconducting circuits that operate at higher temperatures or lower power.
• Magnetic materials for next‑generation memory and spintronic logic.
• Energy‑transfer systems that mimic natural processes like photosynthesis, improving solar‑cell or battery performance.

By learning how to steer quantum materials into desirable states, engineers may reduce the overhead required for error correction in quantum computers or enhance the stability of quantum sensors.

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Looking Ahead

The project exemplifies a growing trend in condensed‑matter physics: coupling state‑of‑the‑art experimental probes with large‑scale computational physics to tackle problems that were previously out of reach. Over the next few years, Changlani’s group plans to publish a series of case studies on materials such as nickel pyrochlores and other frustrated magnets, providing a roadmap for researchers seeking to harness non‑equilibrium phenomena.

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Bottom line: With DOE support, Changlani and Plumb are poised to turn neutron scattering into a real‑time window on electron dynamics, opening new avenues for controlling quantum matter and translating those insights into practical, energy‑efficient technologies.