Welcome to the Frandsen Group!

About the Group

We are an experimental condensed matter physics group focused on investigating the structure and magnetism of fascinating--and often technologically promising--materials, such as superconductors, strongly correlated electron systems, multiferroics, magnetocalorics, molten salts for nuclear reactors, and more. We use beams of neutrons, x-rays, and muons produced at large-scale accelerator facilities to probe the atomic and magnetic correlations in these materials, together with advanced computational modeling to gain quantitative insight into the spatial arrangement of atoms and spins in a given material. Specific techniques include atomic and magnetic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis of neutron/x-ray total scattering data and muon spin relaxation/rotation (μSR). Interested and motivated undergraduate and prospective graduate students are encouraged to reach out to learn more about our research and find opportunities to participate.

Research Projects

Thermoelectrics, Magnetocalorics, and Multiferroics--Oh My!

This project focuses on the connection between the local atomic and magnetic structure and the energy-relevant properties of magnetocaloric, thermoelectric, and multiferroic materials. Magnetocaloric materials exhibit large temperature changes with the application and removal of a magnetic field, offering promising applications in solid-state refrigeration and waste heat harvesting. Thermoelectric materials experience an electrical voltage when subjected to a temperature gradient or vice versa, also providing novel routes for energy-efficient cooling and waste heat harvesting. Multiferroic materials show cross-order coupling between electric polarization and magnetic order, potentially enabling unique functionalities for energy transformation, information science, and signal processing. We are using combined atomic and magnetic pair distribution function analysis, together with muon spin spectroscopy, to establish the local atomic and magnetic structure of representative compounds for these material classes and better understand the origin of their outstanding properties. In the process, we are developing new experimental and computational methods for magnetic pair distribution function analysis, which will be widely applicable to many other materials, as well. Funding: US Department of Energy, Early Career program.

Promoting Many-Body Quantum Entanglement in Geometrically Frustrated Magnets with Disorder

Quantum information technologies rely on quantum entanglement, or the intrinsic linking of one quantum object to another. An important research objective is to gain a fundamental understanding of many-body quantum entanglement involving large numbers of quantum objects. Certain magnetic materials known as geometrically frustrated magnets provide a valuable platform for this topic of study because they may exhibit many-body-entanglement at low temperature. This project advances the search for promising quantum-entangled frustrated magnets through a systematic investigation of the role of atomic-scale disorder in promoting or hindering many-body entanglement. The results illuminate strategies for utilizing disorder to promote quantum-entangled ground states and contribute to a deeper understanding of many-body quantum entanglement in general. Funding: US National Science Foundation LEAPS Program.

Novel magnets, Magnetic Nanoparticles, Metal-Insulator Transitions, High-Entropy Materials, and More

We maintain broad interest and involvement in structural studies of numerous material systems where knowledge of the local atomic and magnetic structure can add value. We have ongoing projects on novel magnets such as altermagnets and low-dimensional magnets, magnetic nanoparticles, Mott insulator systems and materials with metal-insulator transitions, high-entropy alloys and oxides, and more. We are always open to collaborations on interesting material systems.

Selected Publications

Superconducting properties of noncentrosymmetric superconductor CaIrSi₃ investigated by muon spin relaxation and rotation

Benjamin A. Frandsen (et al.)

We have employed muon spin relaxation and rotation
(
μ
SR
)
to investigate the superconducting properties of the noncentrosymmetric superconductor
CaIrSi
3
. Measurements of single-crystal specimens confirm the development of a robust superconducting state below
T
c
=
3.55
±
0.1
K
with a ground-state magnetic penetration depth of
λ
L
=
288
±
10
nm
and a coherence length of
ξ
=
28.8
±
0.1
nm
. The temperature evolution of the superfluid density indicates a nodeless superconducting gap structure dominated by an isotropic spin-singlet component in the dirty limit with a carrier density of
n
=
(
4.6
±
0.2
)
×
10
22
cm
−
3
as determined by Hall resistance measurements. We find no evidence of spontaneous time-reversal symmetry breaking in the superconducting state within an accuracy of 0.05 G. These observations suggest that the influence of any spin-triplet pairing component or multiple gap structure associated with noncentrosymmetric physics is very weak or entirely absent in
CaIrSi
3
.

Intra-unit-cell nematic charge order in the titanium-oxypnictide family of superconductors

Benjamin A. Frandsen (et al.)

Ferromagnetic Ordering in Superatomic Solids

Benjamin A. Frandsen (et al.)

In order to realize significant benefits from the assembly of solid-state materials from molecular cluster superatomic building blocks, several criteria must be met. Reproducible syntheses must reliably produce macroscopic amounts of pure material; the cluster-assembled solids must show properties that are more than simply averages of those of the constituent subunits; and rational changes to the chemical structures of the subunits must result in predictable changes in the collective properties of the solid. In this report we show that we can meet these requirements. Using a combination of magnetometry and muon spin relaxation measurements, we demonstrate that crystallographically defined superatomic solids assembled from molecular nickel telluride clusters and fullerenes undergo a ferromagnetic phase transition at low temperatures. Moreover, we show that when we modify the constituent superatoms, the cooperative magnetic properties change in predictable ways.

(Ca,Na)(Zn,Mn)₂As₂: A new spin and charge doping decoupled diluted ferromagnetic semiconductor

B. Frandsen (et al.)

(Sr,Na)(Zn,Mn)₂As₂: A diluted ferromagnetic semiconductor with the hexagonal CaAl₂Si₂ type structure

B. Frandsen (et al.)

A new diluted ferromagnetic semiconductor
(
Sr
,
Na
)
(
Zn
,
Mn
)
2
As
2
is reported, in which charge and spin doping are decoupled via Sr/Na and Zn/Mn substitutions, respectively, being distinguished from classic
(
Ga
,
Mn
)
As
, where charge and spin doping are simultaneously integrated. Different from the recently reported ferromagnetic
(
Ba
,
K
)
(
Zn
,
Mn
)
2
As
2
, this material crystallizes into the hexagonal
CaAl
2
Si
2
type structure. Ferromagnetism with a Curie temperature up to 20 K has been observed from magnetization. The muon spin relaxation measurements suggest that the exchange interaction between Mn moments of this new system could be different from the earlier diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) systems. This system provides an important means for studying ferromagnetism in DMS.

Suppression of T_C by overdoped Li in the diluted ferromagnetic semiconductor Li_1+y(Zn_1−xMn_x)P : A μSR investigation

B. A. Frandsen (et al.)

We use muon spin relaxation (μSR) to investigate the magnetic properties of a bulk form diluted ferromagnetic semiconductor (DFS)
Li
1.15
(
Zn
0.9
Mn
0.1
)
P
with
T
C
∼
22
K.
μ
SR
results confirm the gradual development of ferromagnetic ordering below
T
C
with a nearly 100% magnetic ordered volume. Despite its low carrier density, the relation between static internal field and Curie temperature observed for Li(Zn,Mn)P is consistent with the trend found in (Ga,Mn)As and other bulk DFSs, indicating these systems share a common mechanism for the ferromagnetic exchange interaction.
Li
1
+
y
(
Zn
1
−
x
Mn
x
)
P
has the advantage of decoupled carrier and spin doping, where
Mn
2
+
substitution for
Zn
2
+
introduces spins and
Li
+
off-stoichiometry provides carriers. This advantage enables us to investigate the influence of overdoped Li on the ferromagnetic ordered state. Overdoping Li suppresses both
T
C
and saturation moments for a certain amount of spins, which indicates that more carriers are detrimental to the ferromagnetic exchange interaction, and that a delicate balance between charge and spin densities is required to achieve highest
T
C