Department of Magnetics and Superconductors

Mission: Our mission is to uncover the interconnection between microscopic mechanism of magnetism and other physical properties in solids on different characteristic length-scales (such as electric and thermal transport, their crystal structure, charge and orbital order, elastic properties ...).

Approach: : Exploring recent trends and novel fields, we built our scientific achievements on both theoretical and experimental investigation of new materials with unique properties. Our current research is oriented to magnetic, magnetocaloric, thermal, electric and superconducting properties of intermetallic and oxide materials prepared in a form of various morphologies. The quality of our research would be unimaginable without the possibility to continuously build on historical experience in magnetic and high pressure investigations in the Institute of Physics.

As is the current standard, our research is supported by grants and is shaped by various international collaboration programmes. These allow us to focus on both the basic research of experimental and theoretical character as well as the applied research.

Despite magnetism and its microscopic origin represent a common denominator of our research interests, its role in on explored phenomena is often concealed. The department is structured into teams where scientific topics can be grasped:

1. Theory, magnetic spectroscopy and superconductivity (ab-initio calculations of electronic structure, polarons in strongly correlated systems, theory of crystal field in rare-earth complex oxides, superconductors in mixed state probed by Far Infrared Spectroscopy, ...)
2. Technology and characterization of magnetic transition metal oxides at various scales- from ceramics to nanostructures; We interrelate local magnetic interactions and long range order (probed by precise magnetometry, neutron diffraction, …) with electric, magneto-electric and thermal transport. The material research of Fe, Co and Mn based oxides is promising in regards to high-temperature thermoelectric energy conversion and magnetic theranostics (nano-materials for medical and biological applications)
3. Material research at extreme conditions, specifically under high pressures, high magnetic fields and low temperatures; because these methods are relatively rare, this topic includes design and construction of high pressure measuring cells. Magnetic Pressure-Temperature phase diagrams of the 3d- and 4(5)f-element alloys are studied and analyzed. The Heusler alloys (Ni₂MnGa type) where the magnetocaloric effect can be substantially tuned by a variation of composition and by an external hydrostatic pressure are explored.

Examples of magnetic arrangements of Mn cations in perovskites. CE type (left) and Pseudo-CE type (right).