University of Central Lancashire
Research Project/Studentship Description
Project ref: RS/15/03
Closing Date: 7 July 2015
School
Centre
Proposed Director of Studies
Contact Details
Programme (e.g MPhil/PhD)
Duration of Studentship
Hours (Full or Part Time)
Tuition Fees
Maintenance Grant
Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences
Jeremiah Horrocks Institute
Dr Monika Gamza
MGamza@uclan.ac.uk
PhD (via MPhil)
3 years
Full Time
Standard fees apply
£14,057 per annum for student stipend
Tuition Fees paid at Home/EU student rate
Other Allowances (for non UCLan Click here to enter text.
studentships)
See research student specification
Any Entry Requirements
(e.g. 2:1 classification/restricted to UK
residences only)
Any Special Requirements (e.g. driving Click here to enter text.
licence)
Project Title
Theory-assisted search for novel itinerant magnets.
Project Description
The PhD project will focus on searching for systems built of nonmagnetic elements only in
which strong spin fluctuations lead to itinerant spin-density-wave-type magnetic order at low
temperatures. The project will start with performing a series of density functional theory-based
electronic band structure calculations aiming at choosing candidate compounds for experimental
investigations. Attempts to synthesize crystals of such materials will be carried as the next step.
Structural and compositional characterization of grown phases will be carried by means of X-ray
diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis and will be
followed by physical properties measurements (ac magnetic susceptibility, dc magnetization,
electrical resistivity and specific heat) at temperatures between 0.2 K and 400 K and in magnetic
fields of up to 9 Tesla using a standard Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS, Quantum
Design) and an Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator system at Royal Holloway, University of
London (RHUL). A possibility will be given of performing high pressure electrical resistivity and
magnetic susceptibility measurements using piston cylinder cells and Bridgman-type high pressure
cells available at RHUL. Where appropriate, additional experiments will be conducted using
advanced user facilities in the UK such as Diamond Light Source and ISIS pulsed neutron and muon
source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Leeds EPSRC Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Research Equipment Facility.
Research Student Specification
Studentship Ref
Number
RS/15/03
Project Title:
Theory-assisted search for novel itinerant magnets.
School:
Computing, Engineering & Physical Sciences
Contact:
Monika Gamza (MGamza@uclan.ac.uk)
Attributes
Closing Date:
Essential
7 July 2015
Desirable
Measured By
Education/Qualifications
good UK
undergraduate
(2:1 or above)/
postgraduate
degree in
Physics,
Chemistry or
related subjects
(or equivalent
qualification)
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Application
form
Experience
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enter text.
Experience of working in
a shared laboratory
environment.
Application
form and
interview
Experience with one or
more of the following:
low temperature
experimental techniques
including measurements
of electrical resistivity, ac
magnetic susceptibility,
dc magnetization and
specific heat, high
vacuum systems, crystal
growth, X-ray diffraction,
scanning electron
microscope with a
microprobe,
experimental and
computational methods
to study electronic band
structure of solids
Skills/Abilities
Excellent
problem solving
skills
Good written
and oral
communication
skills
Ability to work to
deadlines
Computing skills
necessary for
data processing
and the use of
state-of-art
computational
codes
Personal Details
Interest in solid
state physics,
magnetism,
crystal growth
methods
Independent
and strongly selfmotivated
Willingness to
travel to perform
experiments
Excellent presentation
skills
Excellent
organisational skills
Advanced computing
skills needed for
developing experimental
apparatus and
computational codes.
Application
form and
interview
Application
form and
interview