“Tunneling Into Topological Quantum Matter”

The Syracuse University Department of Physics is pleased to welcome Maksim Litskevich, a Ph.D. candidate in physics at Princeton University for his talk:

“Tunneling Into Topological Quantum Matter”

In the last two decades, the concept of topology has reshaped the long-established foundations of physics. The discovery of topological insulators, materials that host boundary modes protected by symmetry and resilient against perturbations, has opened new pathways toward error-free quantum computations and advanced nanotechnologies. However, the exploration of materials with unique topological properties is far from concluded.

In this talk, Mr. Litskevich will review the powerful technique of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), a tool widely employed to study the properties of topological materials. Due to its real-space and local probing capabilities, STM offers a reliable method to detect and identify topological states at the edges and on the surfaces of crystals. Using the quasi-one-dimensional material Bi₄Br₄, a higher-order topological insulator candidate, as an example, he will outline the procedure for detecting and distinguishing a helical (quantum spin Hall) edge state under the application of a vector magnetic field. Excitingly, due to the large insulating energy gap, helical edge states remain robust within wide temperature range, surviving up to room temperature. The observation of a room-temperature quantum spin Hall state highlights Bi₄Br₄ as a promising platform for next-generation technologies and applications.