Engineering exotic phases of matter in solid state systems

非技术总结该奖项支持在工程固态设备中探索和实现奇异量子现象的理论研究和教育。在实验室中合成可控制的物质相对于推进基础科学和量子技术都是至关重要的。作为最近一个突出的例子，有人预测某些阶段支持奇异粒子，预计这些粒子将显示独特的量子行为；反过来，这种新物理可以被用来创造出在某些任务上远远超过现代机器的量子计算机。在实验室中实现的一条强有力的途径是将人们熟知的系统结合在一起，迫使电子进入新的物质状态，否则可能很难实现。PI的研究将沿着这条线探索各种工程系统，应用范围从量子计算到黑洞物理和量子混沌的桌面模拟。这些结果将有助于将新颖的理论与有形的实验联系起来，同时还将简化新技术的实现。这项研究将得到一个多方面的教育和推广计划的补充。对本科生和研究生进行现代理论研究课题的培训将是一个主要组成部分。研究进展将通过研究文章、研讨会、评论、博客文章、特殊暑期学校和课程向专家和非专家广泛传播。为了在早期促进对科学的兴趣，PI的小组还将接待来自附近学校的小学、初中和高中生访问加州理工大学，这些学校为许多经济困难和代表不足的学生提供服务。技术总结该奖项支持在工程固态设备中探索和实现奇异量子现象的理论研究和教育。该项目将具体研究以下领域：i)基于纳米线的相互作用的Majorana-Fermion模型的实现，该模型显示出与黑洞、混沌和全息术的深刻联系。从这个硬件的角度来看这个问题，有可能揭示出进一步将高能、量子信息和凝聚态物理联系在一起的新见解。Ii)在拓扑绝缘体表面和量子霍尔系统中通向新的非阿贝尔相的可能途径。这项研究将开始弥合这些领域的理论和实验之间的鸿沟，同时也加深了拓扑绝缘体和最近曝光的量子霍尔系统之间的联系。3)现有的和即将进行的追求拓扑量子计算的实验的实际问题。这里的研究包括模拟探测非阿贝尔任意子聚变的实验协议，以及开发传输理论来指导实验实现Majorana零模、准费米子泛化和基于石墨烯的拓扑绝缘体。这些活动将支持正在进行的稳定工程建筑中非阿贝尔任意子的努力，并将有助于量化它们对量子信息应用的效用。这项研究将得到一个多方面的教育和推广计划的补充。对本科生和研究生进行现代理论研究课题的培训将是一个主要组成部分。研究进展将通过研究文章、研讨会、评论、博客文章、特殊暑期学校和课程向专家和非专家广泛传播。为了在早期促进对科学的兴趣，PI的小组还将接待来自附近学校的小学、初中和高中生访问加州理工大学，这些学校为许多经济困难和代表不足的学生提供服务。

NONTECHNICAL SUMMARYThis award supports theoretical research and education in exploring and realizing exotic quantum phenomena in engineered solid-state devices. Synthesizing controllable phases of matter in the laboratory is essential for advancing both fundamental science and quantum technologies. As a prominent recent example, certain phases have been predicted to support exotic particles that are expected to display uniquely quantum behaviors; this new physics can, in turn, be exploited to create quantum computers that wildly outperform modern machines for certain tasks. One powerful route forward towards realization in the laboratory combines well-understood systems to force electrons into novel states of matter that might otherwise be difficult to realize. The PI's research will pursue this line of attack to explore a variety of engineered systems, with applications ranging from quantum computing to tabletop simulations of black-hole physics and quantum chaos. The results will help in bridging novel theories with tangible experiments, while also streamlining the realization of new technologies. The research will be complemented by a multifaceted education and outreach program. Training of undergraduates and graduate students in modern theoretical research topics will comprise a major component. Research advances will be broadly disseminated, to specialists and non-specialists alike, through research articles, seminars, commentaries, blog posts, special summer schools, and courses. In order to promote interest in science at an early age, the PI's group will also host elementary-, middle-, and high-school students visiting Caltech from nearby schools, which serve many economically disadvantaged and underrepresented students. TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis award supports theoretical research and education in exploring and realizing exotic quantum phenomena in engineered solid-state devices. The project will specifically investigate the following areas: i) Nanowire-based realizations of interacting Majorana-fermion models that exhibit profound connections to black holes, chaos, and holography. Viewing the problem from this hardware perspective has the potential to reveal new insights that further link high energy, quantum information, and condensed matter physics. ii) Plausible avenues toward new non-Abelian phases in topological-insulator surfaces and quantum-Hall systems. This research will begin to bridge the gulf between theory and experiment in these areas while also deepening connections between topological insulators and quantum-Hall systems that have recently come to light. iii) Practical issues for existing and upcoming experiments pursuing topological quantum computing. Research here includes simulating experimental protocols that probe fusion of non-Abelian anyons, and developing transport theories that will guide experiments towards realizing Majorana zero modes, parafermionic generalizations, and graphene-based topological insulators. These activities will support ongoing efforts at stabilizing non-Abelian anyons in engineered architectures and will help quantify their utility for quantum-information applications. The research will be complemented by a multifaceted education and outreach program. Training of undergraduates and graduate students in modern theoretical research topics will comprise a major component. Research advances will be broadly disseminated, to specialists and non-specialists alike, through research articles, seminars, commentaries, blog posts, special summer schools, and courses. In order to promote interest in science at an early age, the PI's group will also host elementary-, middle-, and high-school students visiting Caltech from nearby schools, which serve many economically disadvantaged and underrepresented students.