Christopher Stock

My research interests include the application of scattering techniques to the study of strongly correlated electronic and magnetic systems. The primary focus is on neutron scattering which is sensitive to both nuclear and magnetic cross sections. There are two particular topics of interest. 1) Quantum phase transitions and superconductivity - Metallic systems where quantum fluctuations dominate often reveal new phases and transitions in materials. Examples of such cases is the presence of high temperature superconductivity in iron and copper based systems. Other examples include systems based upon 4f elements which display unusual metallic properties at low temperatures. Owing to the presence of strong electronic correlations and local magnetism in these materials, neutron scattering can provide a unique and bulk probe of the microscopic properties. 2) Ferroelectricity and magnetism in oxides - The existence of magnetism and ferroelectricity are usually considered exclusive, but there has been a discovery of a series of materials where both properties coexist and are even coupled. The prospect of tuning a ferroelectric moment with a magnetic field, or a magnetic moment with an electric field, has broad applications to industry and novel devices. Magnets where the interactions are frustrated, or cancel, as a result of lattice geometry provide a natural framework for searching for new multiferroic materials. Given that neutrons are sensitive to both nuclear and magnetic cross sections, they provide an optimal technique for studying these systems and investigating their properties as a function of an external field. Beyond the use of scattering to investigate these systems, I am also interested in synthesizing new materials and optimizing this for the production of large samples for neutrons. Bulk characterization, including heat capacity and susceptibility, are also used to support scattering measurements.

[2025] Anisotropic Band-Split Magnetism in Magnetostrictive CoFe2 O4 [2025] Magnetoelastic Dynamics of the Spin Jahn-Teller Transition in CoTi2O5 [2025] Zeeman Split Kramers Doublets in Spin-Supersolid Candidate Na2BaCo (PO4)2 [2024] Magnetic field tuned superconducting and normal-phase magnetism in CeCo0.5Rh0.5In5 [2024] Anisotropic excitonic magnetism from discrete C4 symmetry in CeRhIn5