New directions in strongly correlated electron systems Silke Paschen Vienna University of Technology & Rice University

Abstract

Strongly correlated electrons do not move independently of each other because their interaction energy is of the same order of magnitude as their kinetic energy. What are the relevant interactions and how can we probe, tune, and ultimately exploit them? In this talk, I will highlight two materials classes where interactions have particularly drastic consequences: quantum critical heavy fermion systems where, at the brink of electron localization, exotic phenomena including unconventional superconductivity emerge, and topological Kondo insulators or semimetals where the joint action of strong Coulomb coupling and strong spin-orbit coupling might lead to the stabilization of "heavy" Dirac or Weyl fermions.