Date/Time
Date(s) - 27/03/2024
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Location
Physics and Astronomy Department

ABB room 102

Dr. Xiang Li
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto
https://www.physics.utoronto.ca/members/li-xiang/

TITLE: Optical studies of quantum materials under extreme conditions

ABSTRACT:
The quantum nature of materials spans microscopic to macroscopic scales. This enables a wide array of physical properties that facilitate applications such as energy-relevant technologies. The exotic properties arise from intertwined couplings of symmetry, topology, dimensionality, and strong correlations, and are sensitive to external stimuli. We can use this sensitivity to unravel the complex interplay between the degrees of freedom by perturbing the interaction parameters and observing the corresponding responses. Pressure provides a clean and effective tunning parameter, but introduces challenges to successfully performing in situ measurements, especially at low temperatures. In this talk, I will discuss how we employ complementary optical techniques to probe the quantum physics of the strongly spin-orbit-coupled Mott insulator and Weyl semimetal under extreme conditions. Taken together, these experiments open new windows into quantum materials by providing multiple probes for accessing and studying novel phases.