Unconventional Thermoelectric Quantum Transport in Novel 2D Magnetic Heterostructures

Imagine a future where your smartphone is more powerful, faster, and energy-efficient than anything we know today. How? Through a revolutionary field of physics called two-dimensional (2D) Quantum Spintronics. This cutting-edge research could transform the way we store, process, and communicate data, opening doors to new technologies like ultra-fast quantum computers. At the heart of this breakthrough are 2D materials – ultra-thin layers of atoms that behave in extraordinary ways. Recently, scientists discovered that some of these materials are magnetic. Even more exciting, they come in different forms: some are metals, others semiconductors, or even insulators. This unique combination of magnetism, quantum mechanics, and low-dimensional structure is what makes these materials so special. The goal of the QTransMag project is to explore and understand these 2D magnetic systems better. By using advanced computer simulations and theoretical models, researchers aim to uncover the hidden properties of these materials. They will focus on how external forces like twisting or stretching the materials can lead to new, exotic magnetic states. One of the most exciting possibilities is the creation of "designer" magnetic phases. Imagine being able to control the properties of a material as easily as adjusting the volume on your stereo. This ability could lead to the development of custom-made materials for quantum devices, revolutionizing everything from computers to medical technology. Ultimately, the project seeks to find ways to detect these exotic magnetic phases and use them in real-world applications. If successful, it could lead to a new generation of devices that operate at the quantum level, offering unprecedented performance and efficiency in the world of information technology.

A far-reaching recent breakthrough in spintronics is the discovery of 2D ferro- and antiferro-magnetic materials with metallic, semiconducting and insulating band structures. The unique advantages presented by the coexistence of low dimensionality, spin interactions, relativistic spin-orbit coupling, and nontrivial topology in the same material enable a new era in condensed matter physics, and materials science and pave the way for developing novel quantum devices with exceptional performance. 2D quantum spintronics offers exciting perspectives in future data processing and information technology. According to the latest decennial report of the Committee on Frontiers of Materials Research in the USA, 2D quantum magnetic systems and topological phases are the main directions of condensed matter physics and materials science in the next decade. QTransMag's goal is to uncover the exotic properties of novel 2D magnetic systems, propose feasible pathways to fine-tune these exotic phases, and making properties-on-demand approach. In QTransMag, we integrate advanced theoretical and sophisticated computational techniques to understand, control, probe, and excite different magnetic exotic phases in two prototypes of 2D magnetic systems. In low dimensions, quantum fluctuations and correlations are enhanced thus, to investigate 2D magnetic materials it is needed to go beyond semiclassical treatment used in spintronics. In this project, using nonequilibrium many body formalism and quantum field theory techniques, we develop a formalism to compute the ground states and different exotic phases of a magnetic system under strain and twist. Emergent gauges fields and particular topology of wavefunctions in different exotic magnetic phases may lead to a signature in transport properties of the system. We propose these features as a guideline for detecting exotic magnetic phases in 2D quantum systems.