Shawna Hollen, Ph.D.

Associate Professor , Physics & Astronomy , University of New Hampshire 

 

2024 Experimental Physics Investigators

Shawna Hollen, Ph.D.
Image Credit: Michael Thompson
 

Research Description

Addressing how charge density waves behave when laterally confined by electrostatics, strain, or physical dimensions will impact the understanding of charge density wave formation, electron phonon coupling in strongly correlated materials, and will allow exploration of the creation of functional quantum dots with new degrees of freedom.

Shawna Hollen’s team plans to create laterally confined quantum dots using flakes of two-dimensional materials with strong correlations through three different methods. They will study these dots primarily using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy to characterize their topography and electronic states, and then they will work to create coupled dots and eventually arrays of coupled dots. Coupled quantum dot arrays with strong correlations are a step toward a new materials platform that can be used to improve quantum computing. Dr. Hollen’s team will also carry out a complementary study of charge density wave flow in strain confined arrays.

Research Impact

Dr. Hollen’s project will impact the broader community in three ways: 1. Further the understanding of charge density wave formation mechanisms; 2. answer fundamental questions about electron phonon coupling through the distinguishable effects of confinement on quasiparticle populations; and 3. create qubits with new degrees of freedom and engineerable parameters.

 
 

related links

Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative Science University of New Hampshire, Department of Physics and Astronomy Back

Education

PhD, Brown University
MS, Brown University
BS, Occidental College

Affiliated Investigators