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RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science Topological Quantum Matter Research Unit

Unit Leader: Max Hirschberger (Ph.D.)

Research Summary

Max Hirschberger (Ph.D.)

We are focused on studying the interplay between magnetic order, in particular non-coplanar spin arrangements such as magnetic skyrmions, and the electronic band structure in solids. A particular emphasis will be put on compounds with the potential to be grown in thin-film form and realizing new types of protected surface states in correlated materials. Methods include materials search guided by standard density functional theory calculations, crystal synthesis using a variety of solid state techniques, and ultra-high resolution transport measurements. We also collaborate closely and regularly with other researchers at RIKEN and beyond to resolve the magnetic structure of new materials using quantum beam scattering experiments and real-space imaging. An important addition to our toolbox is the investigation of physical properties in very high magnetic fields up 45 Tesla (static) or 100 Tesla (transient); for this purpose, we make use of facilities with user programs in Japan, the United States, and Europe.

Main Research Fields

  • Mathematical & Physical Sciences

Related Research Fields

  • Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering
  • Magnetism, superconductivity and strongly correlated systems-related
  • Electric and electronic materials-related
  • Semiconductors, optical properties of condensed matter and atomic physics-related

Keywords

  • Topological Semimetals
  • Skyrmions
  • Frustrated magnetism
  • Thermal Hall effect
  • Thermoelectric transport

Selected Publications

Papers with an asterisk(*) are based on research conducted outside of RIKEN.

  • 1. Yamada, R., Nomoto, T., Miyake, A., Terakawa, T., Kikkawa, A., Arita, R., Tokunaga, M., Taguchi, Y., Tokura, Y., and Hirschberger, M.:
    "Nernst Effect of High-Mobility Weyl Electrons in NdAlSi Enhanced by a Fermi Surface Nesting Instability"
    Physical Review X 14, 021012 (2024)
  • 2. Akatsuka, S., Esser, S., Okumura, S., Yambe, R., Yamada, R., Hirschmann, M.M., Aji, S., White, J., Gao, S., Onuki, Y., Arima, T.-h., Nakajima, T., and Hirschberger, M.:
    "Non-coplanar helimagnetism in the layered van-der-Waals metal DyTe3"
    Nature Communications 15, 4291 (2024)
  • 3. Kolincio, K.K., Hirschberger, M., Masell, J., Arima, T.-h., Nagaosa, N., and Tokura, Y.:
    "Kagome Lattice Promotes Chiral Spin Fluctuations"
    Physical Review Letters 130, 136701 (2023)
  • 4. Hirschberger, M., Hayami, S., and Tokura, Y.:
    "Nanometric skyrmion lattice from anisotropic exchange interactions in a centrosymmetric host"
    New Journal of Physics 23, 023039 (2021)
  • 5. Hirschberger, M., Spitz, L., Nomoto, T., Kurumaji, T., Gao, S., Masell, J., Nakajima, T., Kikkawa, A., Yamasaki, Y., Sagayama, H., Nakao, H., Taguchi, Y., Arita, R., Arima, T.-h., and Tokura, Y.:
    "Topological Nernst Effect of the Two-Dimensional Skyrmion Lattice"
    Physical Review Letters 125, 076602 (2020)
  • 6. Hirschberger, M., Nakajima, T., Gao, S., Peng, L., Kikkawa, A., Kurumaji, T., Kriener, M., Yamasaki, Y., Sagayama, H., Nakao, H., Ohishi, K., Kakurai, K., Taguchi, Y., Yu, X., Arima, T.-h., and Tokura, Y.:
    "Skyrmion phase and competing magnetic orders on a breathing kagome lattice"
    Nature Communications 10, 5831 (2019)
  • 7. Kurumaji, T., Nakajima, T., Hirschberger, M., Kikkawa, A., Yamasaki, Y., Sagayama, H., Nakao, H., Taguchi, Y., Arima, T.-h., and Tokura, Y.:
    "Skyrmion lattice with a giant topological Hall effect in a frustrated triangular-lattice magnet"
    Science 365, 914-918 (2019)
  • 8. *Hirschberger, M., Kushwaha, S., Wang, Z., Gibson, Q., Liang, S., Belvin, C.A., Bernevig, B.A., Cava, R.J., and Ong, N.P.:
    "The chiral anomaly and thermopower of Weyl fermions in the half-Heusler GdPtBi"
    Nature Materials 15, 1161 (2016)
  • 9. *Hirschberger, M., Chisnell, R., Lee, Y.S., and Ong, N.P.:
    "Thermal Hall effect of spin excitations in a kagome magnet"
    Physical Review Letters 115, 106603 (2015)
  • 10. *Hirschberger, M., Krizan, J.W., Cava, R.J., and Ong, N.P.:
    "Large thermal Hall conductivity of neutral spin excitations in a frustrated quantum magnet"
    Science 348, 106-109 (2015)

Recent Research Results

Related Links

Lab Members

Principal investigator

Max Hirschberger
Unit Leader

Contact Information

Frontier Research Building #208,
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama
351-0198, Japan
Email: maximilian.hirschberger [at] riken.jp

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