Towards the mesoscopic limit in correlated electron materials

In the mesoscopic regime, the physical dimensions of a sample are comparable to intrinsic length scales of the host material so that, for example, quantum-mechanical effects play a distinct role. Although the mesoscopic physics of traditional free electron materials has been extensively studied, much less is known about the behavior of strongly correlated electron systems in this limit. The experimental challenges are considerable, but the rewards of success are also expected to be big. Even before reaching the strictly mesoscopic regime, we will achieve some control over domains of exotic ordered states, greatly aiding the quest to understand them. Our goals is to perform transport and thermodynamic measurements on mesoscopic and/or few domain correlated electron states, whose intrinsic length scales like correlation lengths, penetration depths and mean free paths are on the micron-scale. We have embarked on a major investment in this field of research, developing special methods for producing micron-scale crystallites. We could offer a number of projects for the design and commissioning of new experimental tools optimized for working with such tiny samples, and generally in learning how to work with unconventional materials not normally prepared on such small length scales. Our techniques will be technically advanced and technologically very relevant; they offer the chance of both doing adventurous scientific measurement and learning techniques for microfabrication.