Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The Digital Age has seen remarkable technological progress driven by Moore's Law, which forecasts the biennial doubling of transistors on microchips, thereby amplifying computational power. However, the relentless pursuit of miniaturizing silicon-based technologies is now constrained by inherent physical limits and economic barriers. My proposed research program endeavors to transcend these challenges by innovating next-generation computational and communication strategies, capitalizing on scientific breakthroughs and technological advancements in magnetic quantum materials and interfaces. The focal points of my research encompass: (i) the synthesis of high quality magnetic, topological and superconducting materials, in bulk crystals and as thin film heterostructures, (ii) the design and fabrication of tailored nanodevices with unique magnetoelectric response and versatile interface, strain and gate tunability, and (iii) the measurements of magneto-thermo-electrical quantum transport properties under cryogenic temperatures and high magnetic fields, to elucidate their intrinsic characteristics and device functionalities. To delve deeper into the intricacies of magnetic surfaces and interfaces, and to expedite their real-world applications, my group collaborates with preeminent experts at major government laboratories and leading national and international user facilities. These collaborations provide access to unique characterization techniques leveraging advanced neutron, muon, scanning and tunneling probes. Through these partnerships, my team aims to create innovative magnetic platforms with meticulously engineered interfaces, which in turn catalyze enhancement in the precision and sensitivity of the associated characterization methods. This research program promises top-tier, equitable and inclusive training opportunities for highly qualified personnel (HQP), preparing a diverse cohort of trainees for future careers in magnetic quantum materials research and related industries. Our primary focus is on discovering and harnessing novel phenomena that manifest at the confluence of magnetically hybridized topological and superconducting interfaces. The targeted outcomes of this research include the development of: (a) the quantum anomalous Hall effect at high temperatures, enabling practical access to dissipationless quantum conduction and field-free quantum resistance standards for on-chip metrology applications, (b) magnetic topological interfaces tailored for novel memory and logic architectures that prioritize performance and energy efficiency, and (c) magnetically modulated superconducting diode and transistor components for scalable quantum circuits. Such advancements are pivotal for practical quantum information processing and computation, holding the potential to drive economic prosperity and fortify Canada's global competitiveness in the quantum sector.