Erez Berg was attracted to UCSB, he says, by “the world-class program on quantum materials, and the proximity [to Materials, both physically and in terms of research] of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, which brings the top minds in the field to the area every year,” adding, “The beautiful scenery and the ocean didn't hurt, either.”

Berg, who is scheduled to arrive on campus for spring quarter, has conducted creative, influential theoretical studies to gain valuable insights into quantum materials, which embody phenomena that cannot be fully explained by classical physics. He works to improve understanding of novel topological phases of matter, identifying unique electronic properties of materials arising from the special geometries, or topologies, in which the electrons arrange themselves. 

"Topological superconductors are a fascinating example of how intricate behavior can emerge in a system of many interacting quantum particles,” he says. “They really are a gift from nature. However, they have turned out to be extremely rare in the wild and not easy to engineer in the lab. In recent years, new promising candidate topological superconductors have been discovered in two-dimensional materials, so I remain optimistic.”

Berg’s recent work has had a significant impact on a broad swath of important questions in the field, especially in two new directions. He spearheaded a novel method that made it possible for the first time to realize topological phenomena in an otherwise non-topological quantum system. He did so by applying an external driving force, which led to immediate experimental implementations in real materials. He also led the theoretical search for new physical platforms for topological superconductors that show promise in terms of storing and manipulating quantum information. 

Berg has received numerous high accolades, most notably the Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists in Israel in 2019, when he was recognized for developing novel theoretical and computational tools to study both long-standing and emerging questions in quantum materials. He earned a PhD in physics from Stanford University and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard University. Prior to UCSB, he spent five years as a professor in the Department of Condensed Matter Physics and five years working as a senior scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science, in Israel.

“The field of ‘anything quantum’ has exploded in recent years, which has been fascinating to follow,” he notes, adding, “There is no doubt in my mind that, hype aside, we will see ‘practical’ quantum devices within the next decade or two. It’s too early to say how far-reaching the implications of quantum will be, but I think it's certainly a worthwhile scientific endeavor.”

As a theorist, Berg notes, “There are many groups I look forward to collaborating with at UCSB. Interacting closely with experimentalists who are designing and measuring new quantum materials is essential for my work. I have had a long-term, ongoing collaboration with [physics professor] Andrea Young's group on two-dimensional quantum materials, and I look forward to working with materials professors Susanne Stemmer and Stephen Wilson, and, of course, other theoretical groups.”