Visualizing Strongly Interacting Quantum Phases of Matter

Understanding strongly interacting phases of matter continues to challenge our understanding of many particle quantum mechanics. The platforms in which such phases occur spans a wide range of materials, but in this talk I'll focus on those realized in two-dimensional materials. Part of the focus of my talk is to show that visualizing these states using quantum microscopy techniques provides a new window in understanding and manipulating these complex phases and their exotic quasi-particles. A key question is whether these novel interacting phases may be harnessed to create new classes of topologically protected qubits. Of particular interest are phases that harbor non-Abelian anyons and finding methods to demonstrate the existence of these novel quasi-particles and devising ways to manipulating them.