Jinze Wu Rose Hills
Simulation of BaCo2(AsO4)2 as a Kitaev Quantum Spin Liquid Candidate
My research project is simulating the layered honeycomb material BaCo2(AsO4)2 at low temperature and high applied in-plane magnetic field, since BaCo2(AsO4)2 is theorized by the Kitaev honeycomb model to exhibit Kitaev Quantum Spin Liquid (KQSL) behaviors. Currently, the Kitaev honeycomb model is still a very new theory to explain the quantum spin liquid states, and any simulations that corroborate or contradict the experimental results will be examined within the theoretical framework of this model in order to identify possible inconsistencies between the model and the experimental results. This topic will be part of my senior honors thesis project, which expands the simulation to other candidate materials of Kitaev physics. These simulations will help to provide explanations for the magnetic behaviors of BaCo2(AsO4)2 in experiments, and any discrepancy between simulation and experimental results will be examined to determine whether the discrepancy is the product of holes in the theoretical framework of the Kitaev honeycomb model.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you for your generosity to the SURF program at UC Berkeley. Because of your support, I am able to undertake an independent research project, which I never really did before. I hope that you will find my results interesting!