Research Description
Andrea Young investigates emergent phenomena in van der Waals heterostructures, where precise control of electronic structure reveals unexpected quantum phases. His research explores superconducting and topologically ordered states that arise from ferromagnetic backgrounds — challenging conventional understanding of how magnetism and superconductivity interact. By integrating materials discovery, device engineering, and advanced characterization, Professor Young’s team develops devices to probe these quantum phases under extreme conditions. Their work aims to uncover whether these states represent fundamentally new forms of matter, and to demonstrate novel electronic and magnetic devices that leverage their unusual emergent properties.
Research Impact
Professor Young’s research leverages gate-tunable two-dimensional materials that can transition between insulating, magnetic, and superconducting states, with a recent focus on rhombohedral multilayer graphene — crystalline carbon allotropes that can be produced with high reliability and exceptionally low disorder. This versatile platform enables exploration of strongly correlated electron systems and has already revealed new quantum phases. By developing both the fundamental physical understanding of mechanisms in these systems as well as advancing their materials engineering, Young’s work opens new pathways towards novel analog quantum technologies and future quantum information systems.
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related links
Experimental Physics Investigators Initiative 
Science
University of California, Santa Barbara Department of Physics
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