Charge carrier control in 2D Quantum Materials
2D quantum materials are a promising platform that allow for unprecedented control over their quantum states at atomic length scales. A wide variety of striking physical properties have been realised, including superconductivity, charge density-wave states and long-range magnetic order. Many of them are known to be sensitive to changes in carrier density, opening powerful routes for the control of these physical properties [1]. As part of the class of van der Waals materials, they are also ideal systems for fabricating in single-layer structures, as for graphene, but the resulting influence of such thickness reduction on their many-body states and phases is only just starting to be understood and explored.
In this project, you will combine transport measurements using modern field-effect devices [2-3] and spectroscopic studies using angle-resolved photoemission [4-6], in order to gain new levels of control and understanding on the interacting states in 2D quantum materials. Specific systems of interest include transition metal dichalcogenides and 2D magnets. The combined characterization approach will allow correlating changes of electronic structure with transport properties, gate-tuning of their collective states, and ultimately aims to develop new routes towards the “on-demand” control of the exotic physical properties of 2D quantum materials.
This project will involve performing experiments utilizing the state-of-the-art facilities both of the MPI-CPFS in Dresden and of the Centre for Designer Quantum Materials in St Andrews. A majority of the experimental work focusing on transport measurements will be performed at MPI-CPFS Dresden, in close collaboration with St Andrews where the spectroscopic studies will be carried out. Candidates should have an excellent understanding of solid state physics, and be motivated to work in a highly collaborative research environment.
