Investigation of Topological and Collective Quantum Phenomena in nanostructures

• Grant number: 24/22791-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Julio Antonio Larrea Jimenez
• Grantee: Camila Ianhez Pereira dos Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/08845-3 - An Investigation into Topological and Exotic Quantum States under Extreme Conditions (InvestInTopQuantEx), AP.JP

Abstract

This postdoctoral project focuses on developing new methodologies for the synthesisand investigation of strongly correlated electron (SCES) and topological quantum systemsat scales ranging from mesoscopic to nanoscopic. The investigation of their physical propertieswill be conducted using local-probe and bulk experimental methods, with the aimto realize new classes of quantum materials that host topological and correlated quantumphases, which are necessary for sustainable applications in energy storage and transport.Our main focus on this project are the intermetallics FeSexTe1¿x and SnSexTe1¿x,which are at the forefront of SCES. These materials are predicted to host a rich varietyof exotic quantum phenomena whose observation continues to be elusive experimentally:collective quantum states close to a quantum phase transition, local magnetic/electronicanisotropic interactions, electron and spin correlation with putative entangled quantumstates, anisotropic/anharmonic phonons and topological quantum states. Complementarystudies on Eu-doped ZnO thin films will be carried out to understand how intrinsic defectsinfluence the band electronic structure and may contribute to the emergence of correlatedor topological phenomena. This line of research offers an alternative route for identifyingoxide-based platforms for extending material functionalities.We also propose the development of state-of-the-art experimental methods to measurephysical properties in nanoscopic system (nanoparticle alloys and thin films), which willbe set in the new Laboratory for Quantum Matter under Extreme Conditions (LQMEC),headed by Prof. Larrea who is the supervisor of this proposal. In addition, we are planningto perform local probe experimental methods available in our in-house (like Mössbauer spectroscopy)and in external (Multi-User labs) laboratories in order to give robust experimentalevidences of novel materials with unique physical properties as efficient thermoelectricty,topological and unconventional superconductivity, and dissipationless transport phenomenaand more.Besides the scientific achievements, it is expected that the outcome results of this postdoctoralproject also provide good quality of quantum materials for future investigationsunder multiple extreme conditions in our Laboratory LQMEC hosted in the Instituteof Physics of the University of São Paulo (IFUSP), which are of paramount importancefor the success of the FAPESP Young Research Investigator (2018/08845-3) and SPRINT(2022/14202-3) grants.