C1: Kinetic arrest and quantum annealing in model systems

Christian Franz, Christian Pfleiderer

The effects of constrained kinetic energy versus quantum tunneling will be explored systematically in selected model materials using pump-probe ac susceptibility measurements and ultra-high-resolution neutron spectroscopy. The objectives of this project are (i) to establish empirical differences of kinetic arrest and quantum annealing, (ii) to explore relaxation pathways as mediated by different hybrid excitations formed, e.g., by lattice, spin, charge, and nuclear degrees of freedom, (iii) to study spin freezing in classical spin glasses versus quantum materials, (iv) to study spin freezing at quantum phase transitions, and (v) to examine freezing transitions of spin textures subject to non-trivial topological winding.