Efthimios Kaxiras: Twistronics and fantastical materials | #10

Recorded at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts this is a discussion with Professor Efthimios Kaxiras, Chair of the Department of Physics; John Hasbrouck Van Vleck Professor of Pure and Applied Physics and Professor of Applied Mathematics.

He and his group study the structure and properties of different phases of matter and how they can be used in practical device applications. They employ theoretical models and computational tools that span multiple scales from the atomistic to the continuum. They also use machine learning methods to search for new or better materials, and for gaining a deeper understanding of complex solids and phenomena (find out more here - https://scholar.harvard.edu/efthimios_kaxiras/research ).

A recent focus of Professor Kaxiras’ research has been the physics of twisted bilayers and multilayers of two-dimensional solids like graphene, a topic for which he and his team introduced the term ‘twistronics’. In this episode we delve into this exciting new realm of physics, discuss the ways in which it could change the world, and much more.

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Chapters:
00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:32 The most interesting state of matter

00:06:34 Superconductors: quantum weirdness on a large scale

00:12:42 What is twistronics?

00:19:06 The magic of 2D

00:30:46 Applications of these materials

00:36:17 First contact with a powerful quantum computer

00:38:11 AI as a tool/ally

00:43:50 Exciting problems you can make your mission to solve

00:51:45 Advice for the next generation of curious minds