Exploring Magnetism and Superconductivity under Extreme Pressure Conditions
Speaker: Wenli Bi
Affiliation: University of South Carolina
Date: November 14th
Abstract: Our research is driven by a simple question: how do materials evolve when pushed far beyond ambient conditions? By applying pressures of tens of gigapascals – hundreds of thousands of times great than atmospheric pressure – we can reshape crystal structures, tune electronic degree of freedom, and stabilize entirely new phases. Pressure acts as a clean and continuous tuning parameter—allowing us to explore how new phases such as magnetism and superconductivity, emerge and compete in correlated electron systems. In this talk, I will discuss our recent work combining diamond anvil cell techniques, synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy, and electrical transport measurements to probe these effects. Examples include pressure tuned magnetism in Fe-Sn kagome lattices and pressure-induced superconductivity in transition-metal compounds. Together, these studies demonstrate how high-pressure experiments provide a powerful route to uncover hidden phases and guide the discovery of new functional materials.