Quantum Matter Seminar

The complexity and richness of the physics in strongly correlated electron systems have motivated the use of "simpler" systems to emulate electronic correlation—in emerging platforms such as synthetic optical lattices and moiré superlattices. In this talk I want to introduce a materials design approach in a similar vein, which employs solid-state quantum materials by lattice and symmetry design to experimentally investigate the implications of electronic correlation. I will first introduce our search of lattice-derived electronic flat bands—expected to render interaction effects non-perturbative—in d electron-based kagome metals. Apart from band-inspired lattice design starting from the itinerant limit, we also used the well-localized rare earth f electrons together with in-situ strain to emulate from a symmetry perspective the rich anisotropic electronic orders often encountered in correlated electron systems. We anticipate that these materials perspectives can lead us to better controlled correlated quantum materials as well as new avenues for integrating topology with correlation.