Electrons – the carriers of electricity – are inherently quantum mechanical, exhibiting remarkable behaviors like tunneling through barriers, occupying multiple locations at the same time, and even becoming entangled over distances.

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“Yet for decades, these extraordinary properties remained hidden in everyday materials,” said physicist Shahal Ilani.

In the spring 2025 Bethe Lecture, “Quantum Mechanics with a Twist,” Ilani, professor at the Weizmann Institute of Science, will introduce the emerging field of twistronics, which is revolutionizing our ability to harness quantum phenomena. The public lecture is Wednesday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Schwartz Auditorium, Rockefeller Hall 201.

Ilani’s research pushes the boundaries of condensed matter physics, combining the invention of innovative experimental tools with groundbreaking fundamental physics discoveries, said Katja Nowack, associate professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). 

In addition to the public Bethe Lecture, Ilani will give a physics colloquium talk, “The Quantum Twisting Microscope: Visualizing Waves in Quantum Matter,” on Monday, April 7 at 4 p.m. in Schwartz Auditorium, Rockefeller Hall 201. He will also participate in a Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics (LASSP) special seminar, “What is the ultimate conductance of hydrodynamic electrons,” on Tuesday, April 8, at 2:30 p.m. in 700 Clark Hall.

Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences website.