Topological states of matter - from band theory to qubits

Tami Pereg-Barnea
Associate Professor, Department of Physics
McGill University

Abstract

It has been known for decades that properties of solids stem from the microscopic/quantum behaviour of ions and electrons. However, while every system is microscopically different unifying parameters like dimensionality and symmetry sort systems into universality classes with similar properties. However, this traditional classification ignores the notion of topology which has been altering our view of quantum materials over the past decade.

In this talk we will walk through the basics of topological condensed matter and survey known examples such as topological insulators, Weyl semimetals and topological superconductors. The latter systems can host Majorana fermions which are of special interest due to their promise for topologically protected qubits.