The elastocaloric effect of quantum materials: From probing phase transitions to new functionalities
Elena Gati, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Germany
Research on quantum materials is motivated by both fundamental curiosity and technological importance. On one hand, these materials allow for the exploration of quantum phenomena in laboratory settings, and on the other hand, they hold significant potential for the ‘second quantum revolution.’
The phase diagram of quantum materials as a function of temperature and some external parameter, like field or pressure, are usually very rich. Often only small changes in these parameters are needed to tip the balance between different ground states, making these materials highly responsive. Among the different tuning parameters available, strain tuning is particularly attractive because of its ability to control the lattice symmetry. Over the past decade, the strain tuning approach has gained increasing importance in quantum materials research.
In this talk, I will discuss the new technologies that facilitate the investigation of quantum materials under large strain. Specifically, I will introduce the technique of elastocaloric effect measurements. This thermodynamic probe is ideally-suited to explore the nature of phase transitions with strong strain sensitivity, which I will showcase using selected magnetic materials. Additionally, these experiments help identify new materials with high elastocaloric cooling efficiency, paving the way for multi-caloric cooling using quantum materials.