Descrizione del progetto
Una nuova ricerca sul grafene verso superconduttori a temperatura ambiente
Dalla scoperta del grafene, gli scienziati sono stati affascinati dallo strano lattice bidimensionale di carbonio puro e dalla nuova fisica che racchiude. Studi recenti e rivoluzionari hanno dimostrato che il grafene a doppio strato contorto può mostrare regioni alternate superconduttive e isolanti a temperatura ambiente. Tuttavia, come questo avvenga rimane un mistero: una volta svelato, l’informazione potrebbe potenzialmente aiutare gli scienziati a progettare materiali che conducano l’elettricità con resistenza zero a temperatura quasi ambiente. Il progetto SuperTwist, finanziato dall’UE, contribuirà a ricostruire il puzzle di superconduttività non convenzionale del grafene rivelando sperimentalmente il suo aspetto qualificante, conosciuto come parametro d’ordine per la superconduttività. Poiché nessun metodo sperimentale può definire questa quantità complessa, il progetto combinerà competenze da diverse discipline, tra cui scienza dei materiali e metrologia.
Obiettivo
It is widely believed that the development of room temperature superconductivity is one of biggest challenges of modern physics and will lead to a technological revolution. However, a detailed understanding of how high temperature superconductivity arises in unconventional superconductors has to this day eluded scientists. This year, in a breakthrough discovery, scientists have found superconductivity in a radically new compound, which has a strikingly similar phenomenology to most unconventional superconductors – “magic” angle bilayer graphene. As graphene crystals are ultra-clean, highly tuneable and its parent state is well understood, I strongly believe that the study of these compounds will cause a long awaited revolution in the comprehension of unconventional superconductivity.
In this project I will uncover the nature of superconductivity in “magic” angle graphene, by experimentally revealing its defining aspect – the superconducting order parameter. While no experimental method alone can definitely define the order parameter and since key experimental techniques are unavailable for these truly nano-scale materials, I will implement a radically new, multidisciplinary approach between material science and the development of disruptive measurement techniques. To achieve this ambitious goal, my truly unique background is essential, which includes van der Waals engineering, quantum transport, microwave engineering and quantum optics. I will employ these versatile skills to (i) develop robust procedures to engineer novel van der Waals hetero-structures of “magic” angle graphene to manipulate its phonons, impurities and magnetic correlations, (ii) perform Josephson interferometry and tunnelling experiments to
investigate its macroscopic phase, spin state and excitation spectrum, (iii) develop novel thermal transport and specific heat techniques to investigate the size and nodal structure of its superconducting gap.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialstwo-dimensional nanostructuresgraphene
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesatomic physics
- social sciencespolitical sciencespolitical transitionsrevolutions
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesquantum physicsquantum optics
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssuperconductivity
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
ERC-STG - Starting GrantIstituzione ospitante
80539 Muenchen
Germania