Physics Colloquium: “Quantum Materials with Reduced Dimensionality”

The Syracuse University Department of Physics is pleased to welcome Dr. Mengke Liu, Quantum Initiative Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University, for her talk titled, “Quantum Materials with Reduced Dimensionality.”

Mengke Liu received her Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin in 2022, focusing on molecular beam epitaxy synthesis and scanning tunneling microscopy characterization of atomic-thin quantum materials. She is currently a Quantum Initiative Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Physics at Harvard University, where she seeks to integrate quasi-particle interference imaging with transport measurements to elucidate emergent correlated topological phenomena in f-electron systems at reduced dimensionality.

Abstract: In the emerging post-Silicon era, the search for revolutionary materials necessitates principles that transcend those underpinning silicon’s success. Quantum materials with reduced dimensionality hold immense promise due to their reduced symmetry, enhanced electron correlation, and unprecedented tunability. Unlike in silicon, electrons in these materials exhibit enhanced correlations and tend to behave collectively, giving rise to a wide range of novel quantum phenomena—such as high-temperature superconductivity and the fractional quantum Hall effect—with significant potential for transformative applications.

In this talk, I will present our experimental discoveries of two distinct types of correlated quantum materials, each exhibiting unique quantum phases. First, I will show the observation of a correlation-driven magnetic phase in monolayer NbSe2 in its octahedral structural form and demonstrate how heterostructuring with its trigonal prismatic counterpart can lead to the emergence of new correlated phases. In the second part, I will present our discovery of UOTe, a quasi-2D van der Waals f-electron material, where we made the first observation of an unconventional Kondo phenomenon. This finding offers fresh insights into the half-century-old Kondo problem, stemming from the interplay between localized and itinerant electrons. Finally, I will discuss future challenges and opportunities in quantum materials research, emphasizing advancements in societal applications, such as clean energy and quantum computing.