A strong current theme in correlated electron physics is the existence of complex forms of nanoscale order involving several different electronic degrees of freedom. The study of these phenomena is strongly motivated by the problem of high-Tc copper-oxide superconductivity. In this talk I will present neutron scattering results that probe the spin degree of freedom in layered magnetic oxide systems, especially in stripe-ordered layered nickelates. The results provide insight into the stability of the observed ground states, and also throw up a few puzzles that remain to be solved.
Oxford University