Publications
Superconductivity and quantum criticality linked by the Hall effect in a strange metal
Many unconventional superconductors exhibit a common set of anomalous charge transport properties that characterize them as ‘strange metals’, which provides hope that there is a single theory that describes them1–3. However, model-independent connections between the strange metals and superconductivity have remained elusive. Here, we show that the Hall effect of the unconventional superconductor BaFe2(As1−xPx)2 contains an anomalous contribution arising from the correlations within the strange metal.
Sustained enzymatic activity and flow in crowded protein droplets
Living cells harvest energy from their environments to drive the chemical processes that enable life. We introduce a minimal system that operates at similar protein concentrations, metabolic densities, and length scales as living cells. This approach takes advantage of the tendency of phase-separated protein droplets to strongly partition enzymes, while presenting minimal barriers to transport of small molecules across their interface.
Tuning layer-hybridized moiré excitons by the quantum-confined Stark effect
Moiré superlattices offer an unprecedented opportunity for tailoring interactions between quantum particles1–11 and their coupling to electromagnetic fields12–18. Strong superlattice potentials generate moiré minibands of excitons16–18—bound pairs of electrons and holes that reside either in a single layer (intralayer excitons) or in two separate layers (interlayer excitons). Twist-angle-controlled interlayer electronic hybridization can also mix these two types of exciton to combine their strengths13,19,20.
GaN/AlGaN 2DEGs in the quantum regime: Magneto-transport and photoluminescence to 60 tesla
Using high magnetic fields up to 60 T, we report magneto-transport and photoluminescence (PL) studies of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in a GaN/AlGaN heterojunction grown by molecular-beam epitaxy. Transport measurements demonstrate that the quantum limit can be exceeded (Landau level filling factor ν < 1) and show evidence for the ν = 2 / 3 fractional quantum Hall state. Simultaneous optical and transport measurements reveal synchronous quantum oscillations of both the PL intensity and the longitudinal resistivity in the integer quantum Hall regime.
Investigating the landscape of physics laboratory instruction across North America
Physics lab instruction is evolving in response to changing technology, a desire to better prepare students for diverse careers, and renewed focus from physics education researchers. To prepare researchers to evaluate progress in instructional labs in the future, this study set out to understand the current state of instructional physics labs in North America. Using information collected from instructors intending to use two research-based lab assessments, we evaluate the reach, organization, goals, and pedagogies from over 200 unique instructional lab courses at over 100 institutions.
Electronically Coupled 2D Polymer/MoS<sub>2</sub> Heterostructures
Emergent quantum phenomena in electronically coupled two-dimensional heterostructures are central to next-generation optical, electronic, and quantum information applications. Tailoring electronic band gaps in coupled heterostructures would permit control of such phenomena and is the subject of significant research interest. Two-dimensional polymers (2DPs) offer a compelling route to tailored band structures through the selection of molecular constituents.
Spin-Orbit-Torque Material Exploration for Maximum Array-Level Read/Write Performance
A diverse set of SOT materials with vastly different values of spin efficiency, conductivity, and thickness are being explored to achieve the lowest write energy. Research on SOT-assisted STT-MRAM and novel materials for the switching of magnets with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) is also ongoing. This paper presents a comprehensive study on the impact of material parameters on array-level read and write operations for both in-plane and PMA MRAM cells. The results offer important guidelines for material development for this technology. © 2020 IEEE.
Effects of Anisotropic Strain on Spin-Orbit Torque Produced by the Dirac Nodal Line Semimetal IrO2
We report spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance studies of the efficiency of the damping-like (ζDL) spin-orbit torque exerted on an adjacent ferromagnet film by current flowing in epitaxial (001) and (110) IrO2 thin films. IrO2 possesses Dirac nodal lines (DNLs) in the band structure that are gapped by spin-orbit coupling, which could enable a very high spin Hall conductivity, σSH.
Modulation Doping via a Two-Dimensional Atomic Crystalline Acceptor
Two-dimensional nanoelectronics, plasmonics, and emergent phases require clean and local charge control, calling for layered, crystalline acceptors or donors. Our Raman, photovoltage, and electrical conductance measurements combined with ab initio calculations establish the large work function and narrow bands of α-RuCl3 enable modulation doping of exfoliated single and bilayer graphene, chemical vapor deposition grown graphene and WSe2, and molecular beam epitaxy grown EuS.
Evaluating instructional labs' use of deliberate practice to teach critical thinking skills
The goals for lab instruction are receiving critical attention in the physics education community due to multiple reports and research findings. In this paper, we describe a theoretically motivated scheme to evaluate instructional lab curricula and apply that scheme to three implementations of an electricity and magnetism lab curriculum.