For decades, the search for exotic quantum phases—such as magnetism and unconventional superconductivity—was confined to transition metals and complex heavy-fermion compounds. Today, a new paradigm has emerged: a single layer of carbon. By simply stacking or twisting graphene, we can engineer "flat bands" where electron interactions dominate, transforming graphene into a playground for magnetism, superconductivity, and topological order.

In this talk, I will explore how the synergy between topology and many-body interactions in graphene-based systems leads to emergent phenomena with transformative potential. I will first discuss the discovery of Orbital Chern Insulators, where magnetism arises not from electron spin, but from collective orbital motion. This leads to a long-sought goal in condensed matter: the ability to flip a macroscopic magnet using only a tiny electric field, pointing toward the future of universal, non-volatile memory. I will then examine the emergence of chiral superconductivity in rhombohedral multilayer graphene, a state that breaks time-reversal symmetry and may host Majorana zero modes for fault-tolerant topological quantum computing.

Finally, I will address the limitations of traditional theoretical tools in tackling strongly correlated systems, and introduce an AI-driven revolutionary approach to solve the Schrödinger equation from first principles. I will demonstrate how these AI-powered methods are outperforming traditional numerical methods, providing the most accurate results to date in simulating fractional quantum Hall physics and Wigner crystallization.

I will conclude by discussing how this dual revolution in materials and AI is accelerating a paradigm shift in our understanding of quantum matter.

Before the talk (~3:45pm), tea and coffee will be served outside 149 Weniger.

After the talk, there will be a reception with food and drink in 247 Weniger.