We aim to establish in-situ symmetry control of two-dimensional (2D) materials and heterostructures by manipulating mechanical strain. We develop nanomechanical platforms providing in-situ control over strain, specifically governing its direction and variation in both space and time.

We investigate "hidden" quantum states in symmetry-controlled materials:

• Rotational Symmetry: Controlled by generating uniaxial strain, this grants access to novel states—for example, valley degrees of freedom behaving as if in ultra-strong magnetic fields, or novel magnets where electron spins propagate without scattering.
• Discrete Translational Symmetry: Controlled by generating inhomogeneous strain, this unlocks excitonic transport, confinement, and superfluidity.
• Moiré Lattice Symmetry: The size and symmetry of moiré lattices in heterostructures are continuously tuned to access hidden phases, including new forms of magnetism.
• Temporal Symmetry: Manipulation reveals topologically protected magnonic states.

These states have far-reaching potential in quantum technologies, ranging from ultralow dissipation spintronics to photon emitters for quantum communication.

Key papers:

[1] Yagodkin et al., Nature Comm. 16, 10232 (2025).

[2] Kumar et al., Nature Comm 15, 7546 (2024).

[3] Harats et al., Nature Photonics 14, 324 (2020).