DFMT-IFUSP Student Receives Best Poster Award at the 2026 SBF Autumn Meeting
Emanuelle F. Almeida, from the Department of Materials Physics and Mechanics (DFMT) at the USP Physics Institute, was awarded the Best Poster prize in Materials Physics during the Autumn Meeting of the Brazilian Physics Society (EOSBF 2026).
The Research: Frontiers of Frustrated Magnetism
Emanuelle Almeida's research focuses on the study of geometrically frustrated magnetic materials. In these systems, the crystal lattice geometry prevents spin interactions from being satisfied simultaneously, giving rise to exotic states such as "spin ice" or "quantum spin liquid".
The study specifically investigated the Er₂₋ₓTbₓSn₂O₇ stannate series, where the substitution of rare-earth ions allows for the tuning of magnetic interactions and structural disorder. The work is of particular scientific relevance as it combines two distinct fundamental states: Tb₂Sn₂O₇ (an ordered spin ice) and Er₂Sn₂O₇ (which exhibits a Palmer–Chalker type antiferromagnetic ground state).
Methodology and Results
The compounds were synthesized using solid-state reaction and sol-gel methods, and were characterized by:
- X-ray Diffraction (Rietveld refinement);
- Raman Spectroscopy for structural confirmation, which confirmed the pyrochlore structure;
- AC and DC magnetization measurements, which indicated predominantly antiferromagnetic interactions.