Sub-Nanoscale Observation of Magnetic Monopole Noise

The magnetic version of the electron, the Dirac magnetic monopole, although predicted to exist, has yet to be discovered.

Recently, the search for emergent magnetic monopoles in quantum materials has focused on spin-ice compounds, which host magnetic monopoles as emergent quasiparticles.

Even though emergent monopoles have been studied using the toolbox of quantum matter research, the long awaited monopole detection is still lacking because of the limited low spatial resolution probes and temperature range of the experiments.

In this proposal, I present a plan to develop a novel concept called Scanned Spin-Noise Microscope (SSNM) and provide a cutting-edge instrument for realising a Sub-Nanoscale Observation of MAgnetic monopole Noise (SNOMAN).

The SSNM will be designed to operate in a cryogen-free dilution refrigerator to slow down the monopole dynamics and realise the long-awaited single monopole detection. I aim to undertake this project under the supervision of Prof.

Seamus Davis at University College Cork, where all the necessary facilities and expertise are available to achieve the objectives described in this proposal.