Research

Topological Insulators (TI): Three dimensional topological insulators are those which have insulating bulk and conducting surface states. We synthesize these materials using the technique of molecular beam epitaxy and engineer the properties to realize novel electronic and thermal states. 

Superconductors: These are materials that exhibit zero resistance and diamagnetism below a certain transition temperature. Our work involves making micro and nano scale devices out of these materials, to control and manipulate the state of these devices using electrical gating and magnetic field.

Interfaces of the above class of materials: One way to engineer material properties is to use the concept of proximity coupling. We interface materials of different kinds and study the interfacial properties. For instance, hybrids of superconductors and magnetic materials: Although superconductors and ferromagnets are opposite phenomena in nature, triplet superconductivity allows for their co-existence. Likewise, the surface state properties of topological insulators can be tuned based on the magnetization in a TI/magnetic insulator hybrid. We study electronic properties of nano devices fabricated out of hybrids that involve topological materials, superconductors and magnetic materials.