Condensed Matter/Materials & Biological Physics Seminar with Man Nguyen on Quantum Acoustics and Engineered Phase Transitions in Topological Superfluid He-3

The superfluid states of He-3 are a model system for studying unconventional superconductivity exhibiting topological edge states, spin glass phases, spin-orbit coupling, Higgs modes, and many more exciting phenomena. I will discuss parallel research programs on how we engineer new phases and probe some of these novel quanta. The quantum acoustics program uses microfabricated Fabry Perot interferometers to couple cavity phonons to Cooper pair excited states (Higgs modes). This phonon-Higgs interactions is used to reveal the complex dynamics of superfluid He-3 and is responsible for a unique sound mode called transverse zero sound. Finally, I will discuss how we engineer phase transitions in this system by introducing disorder in the form of aerogel which tunes the phase diagram similar to doping in electronic systems.