Quantum magnetic fluctuations are one of the key concepts in modern condensed matter physics, and is a thread that ties together a vast array of topics, from the coherence of unconventional superconductivity to the entangled disorder of quantum spin liquids to name just two examples.  In this talk, I will discuss why it is essential to understand quantum magnetic fluctuations in materials that host them and how we can use inelastic neutron scattering to probe these important phenomena.  As a specific example, I will discuss how quantum magnetism is manifested in the correlated electron metal Yb₂Pt₂Pb and the observation of fractionalized one-dimensional spin excitations, quasiparticle confinement, and longitudinally polarized quantum modes.  Finally, I will discuss how these measurements can point to new and interesting research directions.

Dr. William J Gannon is originally from Alexandria, Virginia near Washington DC in the United States.  He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan in Physics, awarded in 2005 and a PhD in Physics from Northwestern University, awarded in 2013.  His adviser was Professor Bill Halperin and his thesis focused on crystal growth and neutron scattering experiments with the triplet superconductor UPt3.  Since then, he has been a postdoc with Professor Meigan Aronson, first at Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Lab and now at Texas A&M University.  His research interests include neutron scattering, low dimensional magnetism, correlated electron physics, and crystal growth of novel magnetic materials.