SPA Colloquium: Tyrel McQueen (JHU)

Title: Using Data Science (AI/ML) to Discover Quantum Materials

Abstract: Solid state physics thrives on creating experimental realizations of predicted quantum states of matter, and on unexpected observations leading to new insights into the nature of the universe. In this talk, I will present an overview of quantum materials -- matter in which quantum fluctuations dominate the observed properties -- and how our understanding and ability to create such materials by design has changed with time. I will spend some time highlighting recent efforts by my group and others in the community to harness recent advances in data science (popularized as AI/ML) in order to accelerate the discovery of superconductors, and provide an outlook on how these tools might shape future research in solid state physics and beyond. If time permits, I will highlight connections between quantum materials discovery and recent efforts to understand and detect dark matter.