When: 26 June 2025, 1500 - 1600
Where: Bldg 646, Rm 102
Speaker: Dr. Perry Corbett, Miami University
Title: Microscopy at the Quantum Edge: Imaging Topological States, Skyrmions, and Superconductors
Abstract: In topological electronic systems, we examine materials with nontrivial band structures and symmetry-protected surface states that produce unconventional transport and optical phenomena. A particular focus is on higher-order topological (HOT) phases, which support boundary modes two or more dimensions below the bulk, such as 0D corner states in 2D and 1D hinge states in 3D structures. These phases require precise control over both internal symmetries and mesoscale morphology. Our second thrust involves developing skyrmion-hosting materials for high-density, low-power data storage and neuromorphic logic. Achieving sub-10 nm skyrmions at room temperature with low switching energies remains challenging. We address this through material platforms including B20 compounds, sputtered oxide heterostructures, and compensated ferrimagnets, each enabling tunable, scalable skyrmion formation. The third area focuses on superconducting materials for transmon qubits. We study the relationship between growth conditions, structural quality, and device performance, particularly in mitigating two-level system losses that limit coherence. Notably, we demonstrate true single-crystal tantalum films with controlled oxygen content, showing significant improvements in film quality and Q-factor. This seminar will highlight recent discoveries across all three thrusts: observed HOT states in Bi?–Bi?Se? superlattices with robustness to oxygenation, SP-STM measurements of sub-10 nm skyrmions meeting DARPA benchmarks, and single-crystal tantalum with enhanced coherence properties. These advances underscore how targeted quantum materials research supports the development of next-generation quantum technologies for national defense.
Bio: Dr. Perry Corbett is an Assistant Professor of Physics at Miami University. He received his PhD in Physics from Ohio University in 2018 and completed a Post Doc at the Ohio State University in 2020. He then became a research scientist at UES (now BlueHalo) until he joined Miami University in 2022. His research group employs a comprehensive approach to quantum materials development and functional microscopy, focusing on three key classes of materials: topological electronic systems (e.g., topological insulators, Dirac/Weyl semimetals), magnetic systems hosting skyrmions, and superconductors for transmon qubits.
