IC / Topological insulators (2 projetos)

Descrição e requisitos:
PROJETOS IC no LQMEC com bolsa FAPESP ou CNPq: 

• Project#1. Topological insulators (TI) are a class of quantum materials, which present an insulating bulk and protected conducting surfaces. A thickness dependent investigation of thermal and thermoelectric transport in selected single crystalline TI is ongoing at LQMEC with the aim to reveal underlying mechanisms at the base of the enhanced figure of merit. In this project, the candidate will develop strategies to make viable the progressive size reduction of the investigated crystals, while preserving them to investigate physical properties as a function of thickness (and temperature). 
   
• Project#2. When the investigated TI compound are in a form of thin films (approaching nanometric thickness), the investigation of thermal transport properties is only possible through an AC-technique called 3Omega, based on the deposition of a heater/thermometer on top of the film. At LQMEC, we recently implemented the technique. In order to develop multilayer analysis, a dedicated coding must be carried out. In this project, the student is expected to get involved in the principle of the 3Omega technique, develop an analysis code and test it on real data obtained in the lab.