Associate Professor Kenta Kuroda from the Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering at Hiroshima University received the “Young Scientists’ Award” in the 2024 Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).

The award ceremony took place on April 17, recognizing Kuroda's contributions to the field of topological electronic structures and electronic correlations in antiferromagnets.

Winner: 

Kenta Kuroda (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University)

Achievement:

Research on topological electronic structures and electronic correlations in antiferromagnets

While numerous topological materials have been reported as next-generation device materials, most of them are limited to non-magnetic materials. Topological magnetic materials, which combine functionality with magnetism, have remained largely unexplored.

In this study, Kuroda developed and improved photoelectron spectroscopy techniques to enable precise observation of electronic structures in magnetic materials, which had traditionally been difficult. These techniques were applied to investigate the electronic structures of the antiferromagnetic material CeSb and the chiral antiferromagnetic material Mn3Sn. As a result, the research uncovered topological magnetic materials where antiferromagnetic order is coupled via electronic structures that induce topological properties and electronic correlation effects, thereby elucidating their characteristics.

The findings of this study provide important insights into antiferromagnetic spintronics technology, showcasing the emergence and control of topological properties in antiferromagnetic materials. This breakthrough is expected to contribute significantly to the realization of high-performance devices utilizing antiferromagnetic materials.