Physics & Astronomy

Ming Yi

As an experimental condensed matter physicist, I am broadly interested in discovering, understanding, and controlling emergent phenomena in quantum materials, where electron correlations, topology, and/or constrained dimensionality give rise to a wide range of fascinating behaviors in high temperature superconductors, toplogical materials, heavy fermion systems, density wave systems, etc. I am interested in advancing the fundamental microscopy understanding of these materials and pushing the boundary of such understanding to create new exotic phenomena. To achieve these goals, I am interested in using and advancing experimental tools such as angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) and x-ray scattering to probe both the single-particle and collective excitations of these materials. As these enchantingly elusive quantum orders often exhibit a multifaceted nature, this multimodal approach of utilizing complementary techniques allows us to form a powerful and holistic view of the properties of quantum materials. The technical tools that let us access these arenas combined with the ability to tune via carrier doping or chemical pressure by ways of crystal synthesis not only allow us to probe and understand the multitude of electronic quantum phases, but also to actively promote jovial cooperation, belligerent competition, or even inextricable intertwining of these quantum orders—revealing some of the most beautiful symmetries of our universe through the perspective of correlated quantum materials exhibiting emergent phenomena.