Wu Lab

Topological insulators
& superconductors

Science 354, 1124 (2016)

Nat. Phys. 13, 350 (2017)

Nat. Photonics. 12, 73 (2018)

Research Interests

We develop and utilize time-resolved and nonlinear optical techniques in both the terahertz (THz) and optical frequency regimes to study and control properties of materials broadly known as ''quantum materials.’’ In this class of matter, collective phases and properties defy a classical description, often leading to an exotically rich range of emergent phenomena. Recent examples include the observation of the topological magneto-electric effect and "axion electrodynamics" in bulk-insulating 3D topological insulators, the discovery of giant second harmonic generation in Weyl semimetals, evolution of magnons across a quantum phase transition in Kitaev magnets and spatial imaging of nematic orders in Iron-based superconductors. Our ultimate goals are to understand/discover new physics of these materials and to control them by light or strain or electrical gating to apply them to the next generation of quantum computers, solar cells and memory devices.

Recent News

An article in Penn today highlighted our research. (11/2019)
Graduate student Xingyue joined the group. (08/2019)
Liang received the 2019 McMillan Award (shared with Barry Bradlyn) for outstanding contributions in condensed matter physics. (07/2019) See Almanac news.
Liang received the ARO YIP Award. (06/2019)
Graduate student Jonathan joined the group to work on this summer project. (05/2019)
Liang's pedagogical article on topological magneto-electrical effect was published in SciPost Physics. (04/2019)
Liang's work on Kitaev Magnet α-RuCl3 was highlighted as Editor's suggestion. (09/2018)
Zhuoliang joined the group as the first graduate student. (08/2018)
Liang's work on Weyl semimetals was highlighted in Phys.org and Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences. (03/2018)
Liang was recognized as "30 under 30" in Science by Forbes Magazine. (01/2018).
Liang received the 2017 Michelson Postdoc Prize Lectureship. (09/2017).
Liang received the APS 2017 Richard Greene Dissertation Award in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics. (03/2017).