Imaging Frozen Electrons in a 2D Wigner Crystal

Explore the groundbreaking research on imaging Wigner crystals in a colloquium presented by Mike Crommie from UC Berkeley. Delve into the fascinating world of condensed matter physics and discover how electrons can "freeze" in place due to dominant Coulomb repulsion. Learn about the historical context of Wigner crystals, from their theoretical prediction 90 years ago to early experimental observations in liquid helium and semiconductor interfaces. Understand the challenges faced in high-resolution microscopy of these electron-ice structures and how recent developments in 2D materials have revolutionized their study. Gain insights into the innovative use of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) techniques to overcome imaging difficulties and witness the first-ever imaging of Wigner crystals in systems with dimensions greater than one. Uncover the potential implications of this research for our understanding of quantum mechanics and material science in this engaging hour-long presentation from the Stanford Physics Applied Physics/Physics Colloquium series.