CAREER:Correlated and Topological Quantum Transport in Novel 2D Crystals and Devices

非技术摘要：量子技术被许多人视为下一场伟大的技术革命，它将深刻影响未来的经济增长和国家安全。这项研究旨在通过识别拥有按需量子粒子和相的新型材料来解决未来量子技术面临的一些最基本和最关键的问题。为了实现这一目标，需要保护这种新材料的量子特性不受环境噪声的影响。在二维晶体中，量子电子特性可以被显著地设计出来，提供保护相位免受噪声影响的能力。这里探索了各种有趣的量子态，重点是由关联和拓扑组织和保护的电子态。这一成果将有助于推动基础量子科学的前沿，并使未来量子技术的新技术路线成为可能。该项目培养下一代量子科学家和工程师，因为实验包含了面向研究生和本科生的全面和高质量的教育内容。将开展各种教育和推广活动，鼓励和培训代表不足的群体的学生，并教育K-12学生和公众有关量子材料的知识。技术摘要：拓扑量子物质为发现电子系统中全新的现象和应用提供了巨大的机会。例如，寻找一类拥有非阿贝尔任意子的相关拓扑量子物质是发展拓扑量子计算的第一步。实现这一潜力的关键在于开发新的量子材料。拓扑量子物质的一个丰富的，基本上未被探索的材料类别是二维(2D)晶体家族。在这个项目中，主要研究人员的目标是基于新的2D晶体及其相关结构来寻找各种新的、高度可调的物质的拓扑和关联量子态。探索了几种候选系统，包括由原子薄的WTe2、GdTe3及其扭曲的双层膜制成的器件。研究人员利用并创新了一套纳米制造和量子输运测量工具来研究这些系统中的新的量子电子现象，重点研究超导、磁性和/或拓扑相，包括非阿贝尔量子态。这一结果预计将对包括2D材料、拓扑物质、非阿贝尔物理和量子信息设备在内的几个子领域产生影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Nontechnical abstract: Quantum technologies are viewed by many as the next great technological revolution, which will deeply impact future economic growth and national security. The research aims to solve some of the most fundamental and critical problems confronting future quantum technologies by identifying novel materials that host on-demand quantum particles and phases. To achieve this goal, quantum properties of such new materials need to be protected from environmental noise. In two-dimensional crystals quantum electronic properties can be remarkably engineered, offering ability to protect phases from noise. Various interesting quantum states are explored here, focusing on the electronic states organized and protected by correlations and topology. The results will help push forward the frontier of fundamental quantum science, and enable new technical routes toward future quantum technologies. The project trains next generation of quantum scientists and engineers, as the experiments incorporate comprehensive and high-quality educational components for both graduate and undergraduate students. Various educational and outreach activities will be developed for encouraging and training students from underrepresented groups, and educating K-12 students and the public on quantum materials.Technical abstract: Topological quantum matter offers tremendous opportunities for discovering fundamentally new phenomena and applications in electronic systems. For instance, the search for a class of correlated topological quantum matter that hosts non-Abelian anyons is the first step towards developing topological quantum computation. The key to realizing the potential relies on the development of new quantum materials. A rich, largely unexplored material class for topological quantum matter is the family of two-dimensional (2D) crystals. In this project, the principle investigator aims to search for a variety of new, highly tunable topological and correlated quantum states of matter based on novel 2D crystals and their associated structures. Several candidate systems, including devices made from atomically thin WTe2, GdTe3 and their twisted bilayers, are explored. The investigator utilizes and innovates a set of nanofabrication and quantum transport measurement tools for investigating the novel quantum electronic phenomena in these systems, focusing on superconducting, magnetic, and/or topological phases, including the non-Abelian quantum states. The outcomes are expected to generate impact on several sub-fields, including 2D materials, topological matter, non-Abelian physics and quantum information devices.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.