STMoire · The holistic understanding of superconductivity in moiré quantum materials

Moiré materials are a unique platform to study novel quantum phenomena. Their exotic properties, resulting from electron interactions, present an opportunity to develop novel fundamental knowledge and innovative technologies.Moiré superlattices arise when atomically thin layers are slightly misaligned. Their hybridization creates flat bands – states where electrons have zero kinetic energy. As a consequence, interactions between them dominate the physics. This means that the material’s properties cannot be understood in terms of the individual electrons but as a collective phase that all belong to. Superconductivity, correlated insulators and topology have been reported, but their nature and interplay remain unknown.A great limitation in the field is the lack of microscopic information and the disparity in experimental results that arise from sample inhomogeneity. In this context, local probes are key to unravel the true ground state.STMoiré aims to understand the quantum phases that emerge in magic-angle twisted graphene. STMoiré will explore the unconventional superconducting mechanism and the interplay between correlated phases through an experimental strategy that independently and complementary addresses these open questions. I will do so by means of low-temperature Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy. STMoiré will benefit from my unique expertise in moiré physics and device fabrication to develop an experimental approach beyond the state-of-the-art that combines high-quality sample engineering, ultra-high-energy resolution and atomically-resolved measurements.The goal is to explore the nature of superconductivity and develop a holistic understanding of the phase diagram. This will significantly contribute to condensed matter physics by deepening our knowledge of superconductivity in a new correlated material, expanding the current understanding, and potentially revealing a novel form of superconductivity.