Yazdani Lab

  • Visualizing the microscopic phases of magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene

    Scanning tunneling microscopy images of twisted bilayer graphene, which show the graphene atomic lattice (left) and the magic-angle graphene moiré superlattice (right).
    Left: STM images of twisted bilayer graphene; Right: image of Nature cover (Aug.2023 issue)
  • Hunting for Majoranas

    Left: Proposed state of electrons in a high magnetic field (even-denominator fractional quantum Hall states) are predicted to host Majorana quasiparticles.
    Proposed state of electrons in a high magnetic field

    Left: Proposed state of electrons in a high magnetic field. Right: Science cover (June 2023)

Harnessing the power of quantum microscopy techniques

A goal at the forefront of condensed matter physics is understanding how quantum phases of matter emerge from interactions among electrons or from topological properties of electronic states. These quantum phases can have novel electronic properties and host unusual quasiparticles, the control and manipulation of which may lead to new quantum technologies.

Our group's focus is to harness the power of high-resolution scanning quantum microscopy techniques to understand such novel phases of matter. These studies have provided information that is impossible to obtain using conventional macroscopic averaging techniques typically used in condensed matter physics. For example, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) techniques can directly visualize electronic wavefunctions in quantum materials, allowing us to understand the nature of new quantum phases and their excitations.

Our group not only applies well established techniques of quantum microscopy across a wide range of material platforms, but we also develop new microscopy methods and tools.

Recent Highlight

STM images of twisted bilayer graphene, which show the graphene atomic lattice (left panel) and the magic-angle graphene moiré superlattice (right panel).

STM images of twisted bilayer graphene, which show the graphene atomic lattice (left) and the magic-angle graphene moiré superlattice (right).

Visualizing the microscopic phases of magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene

New study captures behavior of interacting electrons that give rise to insulating states, addressing a key unsolved puzzle in the field.
As reported in Nature (August 2023): Read more.

View All Highlights

Nature cover volume 620 August 2023

Video: Research Overview

Video: Lab Tour 2021