Research Projects

Topological states of matter, which have gained significant interest and a Nobel prize in 2016, offer linear dispersion and spin-momentum locking due to their helicity. These properties are attractive for applications in next-generation spintronic devices, enabling various phenomena such as the quantum anomalous hall effect, topological hall effect, and chiral anomaly. A topological superconductor with the right order parameter can lead to Majorana zero-modes, which are their own antiparticles. Majorana statistics can lead to topological qubits that are immune to noise due to decoherence, which plagues current quantum computers. To perform a high-throughput search of topological matter, a three-pronged symbiotic approach is proposed. The researchers will use a 400mK ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscope (STM) with vector magnet to find topological band structure, locate topologically protected states, and quantify important band parameters using Landau level spectroscopy. They will also use a superconducting Nb tip and Josephson tunneling experiments to ascertain Majorana zero modes in topological superconductor candidates with a resolution of a few tens of microvolts. The researchers will grow promising candidates using the flux technique and use ab-initio methods to calculate band structure and topological invariants. They aim to target Heusler compounds, which offer a wide range of possibilities for multi-functionality. If they discover a topological property useful for devices, this could result in important patents.