In condensed matter physics, designer materials offer exciting opportunities to discover new kinds of physical behaviors that are hard to find in natural materials. A major challenge is to combine different materials in a way that keeps their unique quantum properties intact, while also controlling how they interact. This is where advanced nanofabrication techniques come in, but the complexity of such systems makes further progress difficult.
In my research, I will use special layered materials, known as van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures, to create and study unusual quantum states of matter. My main goal is to develop and explore two-dimensional (2D) topological superconductors—a type of material with unique electrical properties that could lead to breakthroughs in quantum technology.
Once these materials are created, I will use various external factors, like magnetic fields, temperature changes, and chemical adjustments, to manipulate their behavior. I will also investigate how the moiré effect, a pattern that forms when two layers of material overlap at slightly different angles, can be used to further control these superconducting states.
Finally, I aim to combine these 2D superconductors with special materials called ferroelectrics to build tiny, reprogrammable circuits. These circuits could allow us to control superconductivity using electric fields, opening up new possibilities for future technologies.
To achieve this, I will use a technique called molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to precisely create clean, high-quality materials, and then study their properties at extremely low temperatures using advanced microscopy tools. This combination of techniques will give me an unprecedented look at the atomic structure and electronic properties of these fascinating new materials.
