Topological materials, such as topological insulators and topological Dirac semimetals, are a new class of matter that possess new and exciting electronic properties. Allowing a wide range of new physics to be explored including Majorana fermions and the Chiral anomaly to create revolutionary new electronic devices that have the potential to transport charge through one-dimensional edge modes without dissipation.
In this project you will learn how to grow new two-dimensional topological materials via molecular beam epitaxy. A technique that allows the precise growth and control of epitaxial large area films. This will involve preparing substrates and performing growths, during growth you will utilize in-situ diffraction techniques to confirm crystallinity and sample quality.
After successfully growing these materials you will employ low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to study the electronic properties. This will involve studying with atomic precision the electronic structure at edges and defects with STM at Monash University.
Supervisor: Dr Mark Edmunds and Prof. Michael Fuhrer
See https://www.monash.edu/science/schools/physics/honours/honours-project to apply.