Research Description
Jiun-Haw Chu develops advanced strain engineering tools to explore emergent phases in quantum materials. His research focuses on creating a two-component strain cell capable of independently controlling uniaxial and shear strain, enabling full access to the strain tensor in single crystals. This platform allows precise investigation of electronic nematicity as well as exotic ferroaxial and chiral orders that break mirror symmetry. By integrating instrument development, materials synthesis, and multi-modal characterization, Chu’s team hopes to increase our understanding of symmetry-breaking and phase transitions in strongly correlated systems.
Research Impact
Professor Chu’s research advances the control of symmetry-breaking phases in quantum materials, with a focus on chiral and ferroaxial electronic order. By developing two-component strain cells that enable in situ tuning of multiple strain modes, his work provides a new tool for probing exotic phases and emergent symmetries. This approach could have applications in quantum technologies, including the potential to stabilize and manipulate defect states in superconducting qubits — turning sources of decoherence into long-lived quantum resources.
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related links
Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative 
Science
University of Washington, Department of Physics
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