A seminar by Ziyan (Zoe) Zhu
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The discovery of quantum topological insulators, recognized by the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics, established that topologically distinct interfaces host protected boundary modes. Topology is a universal concept that extends to continuum fluids. We performed the first experimental search for topological plasma waves, the Gaseous Plasmon Polariton (GPP), at the Large Plasma Device (LAPD). The GPP is an electromagnetic wave whose existence is fundamentally rooted in topology; it is theoretically predicted to localize at the boundary between a magnetized plasma and a vacuum, exhibiting unidirectional, chiral motion. Our experimental results reveal clear signatures of helical microwave propagation in the GHz range along the sharp density gradient at the plasma edge. These observations are consistent with the theoretical framework of the GPP, marking a significant step in identifying topological waves within magnetized plasmas.
Ziyan Zhu is an Assistant Professor of Physics at Boston College. Prior to joining the faculty at BC, she was a Stanford Science Fellow. She earned her Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University with a secondary field in Computational Science and Engineering, after receiving her B.Sc. in Physics and Applied Mathematics, with a minor in Art History, from UCLA.
As a computational condensed matter physicist, Professor Zhu develops numerical models to predict and understand emergent quantum phenomena. Her research centers on the coupling between lattices, electrons, and spins. By developing multiscale frameworks, she bridges atomistic simulations with the mesoscopic properties of large, aperiodic quantum materials. Her work aims to guide the experimental discovery of exotic phases of matter, ranging from high-temperature superconductivity to topological states. Beyond quantum materials, she is interested in applying condensed matter physics techniques to understand macroscopic phenomena in fusion plasmas and Earth’s climate
