Electronic interactions, spin correlations and geometric phases of electronic wave functions at microscopic length scales give rise to a rich variety of quantum phenomena across different material platforms. Examples encompass Majorana zero modes (MZM) in topological hybrid structures (1), correlated electronic phases in moiré superlattices (2), boundary modes of topological insulators (3), and quantum spin liquid behaviour in frustrated magnets (4). Beyond a fundamental interest in these novel quantum phenomena, they also hold potential for future technological applications, ranging from energy-efficient electronic devices to fault-tolerant quantum computation.

We perform scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) experiments at ultra-low temperatures to generate microscopic insights on such new quantum phases of matter. STM and its related methodologies are uniquely suited to explore the electronic and magnetic properties of quantum materials at atomic length scales. We are fabricating and exploring a variety of material platforms, including van-der-Waal’s heterostructure and epitaxial thin films.