Quantum criticality and new quantum matter in two-dimensional Dirac materials

Research Project, 2022 – 2025

Dirac quantum criticality is an emerging field, combines major themes in modern condensed matter physics such as Dirac matter and strong correlations. It has connections to various other areas of condensed matter physics, such as topological materials and frustrated magnetism, but also to many topics of current research in high-energy physics, including 3D conformal field theories, supersymmetry, and field-theoretic dualitiesBased on preliminary results, here we will:
a) investigate the existence of an authentic phase transition from insulating phase to relativistic quantum Hall effect (hiQHE) in graphene, and define a universality class and order parameter for this transition. b) Determine if the observed insulating phase is trivial (existence of edge states), linking it to the concept of the predicted Topological Anderson insulator (TAI). The TAI is a new phase of matter that has so been only demonstrated recently ultra-cold atoms experiments, but not in solid state systems.Quantum criticality is a rather fundamental topic. Yet, there are possible practical outcomes. Following the intuition that quantum systems around the critical points are likely to be very sensitive to minute changes of physical parameters, this could lead to ultra-sensitive, quantum-limited detectors relevant for next generation technologies.