As the demand for electronic devices that can perform faster and store more data grows, the materials used to make these devices are reaching their fundamental theoretical limits of performance. To overcome these limitations, there is a growing consensus that new materials are needed. Some of these materials have strong interactions between the electrons themselves that depend on their quantum mechanical properties, including the so-called spin of the electrons, which result in unexpected and potentially useful properties. I will discuss what these interactions are, how they are related to quantum mechanics, and what are some of the potential technological applications in the context of research performed at UC Santa Cruz. I will also describe our students' involvement in the research, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, which provides them with valuable technical training.
David Lederman is a Professor in the Physics Department and the Director of the Materials Science and Engineering program at UC Santa Cruz. Originally from Chile, David received his B.S. in Physics from Stanford and his Ph.D. in Physics from UC Santa Barbara. After postdoctoral training at UC San Diego, David spent 20 years as a faculty member at West Virginia University before moving back to California to join the UC Santa Cruz faculty in 2015. David loves living in Santa Cruz and is an avid open-water swimmer.
