Building Quantum Matter, One Atom at a Time

Abstract

Synthesis is the art of assembling simple building blocks into something new. When the blocks are atoms, this becomes a powerful way to create “quantum materials” whose properties are set by quantum mechanics. Recent advances in atom-by-atom fabrication, using ultra-clean vacuum techniques that let us lay down materials one layer at a time, have opened striking possibilities. In this talk I’ll show how we use these methods in Geneva to design materials with tailored behavior: making superconductivity more robust, dialing magnetic interactions on demand, and shaping “quantum geometry,” the hidden structure of electronic waves that governs how electrons move and respond. I’ll also discuss hybrid states where matter couples strongly to light, creating new ways to control electrical and magnetic properties. Along the way, I’ll highlight why this bottom-up approach is transforming both fundamental research and potential technologies, from ultra-efficient electronics to sensitive detectors, illustrating how precise synthesis turns quantum ideas into real materials.