WELCOME TO Yigal Meir's group's PAGE
Among the research projects, currently investigated by the group:


Edge structure in topological systems

The edge structure in quantum Hall systems and in topological insulators is determined by interplay of edge potential and electron-electron interactions, leading to the possibility of edge reconstruction, and, in the case if topological insulators, to the spontaneous breaking of time-reversal symmetry. The conditions and ramifications of this reconstruction are investigated.


Disordered Superconductors

The interplay of disorder and superconductivity has been an active research subject since the early days of BCS theory. In this project we emphasize the interplay of disorder and phase fluctuations, with emphasis on the nature of the superconductor-insulator transition, and the calculation of experimentally measurable quantities.



Mesoscopic Systems Out of Equilibrium


The effects of non-equilibrium on transport properties of mesoscopic systems, such as quantum point contacts, quantum dots, Aharonov-Bohm rings and their combinations, and its relation to dephasing is of major interest to experiments and to possible applications. In particular, symmetry relation, such as the Onsager relations, are broken out of equilibrium and make these systems particularly challenging.


the Quantum Hall Insulator


In the quantum Hall regime, theory predicts two possible phase - the quantum Hall phase and the insulator phase. The observed "Quantum Insulator Phase", with exponentially large longitudinal resistivity, and quantized Hall resistance, has eluded theoretical understanding so far. We are investigating the role of decoherence in that regime, and demonstrate the stabilization of the quantum insulator phase due to rare incoherent scattering events.


Transport through Quantum Point Contacts and the 0.7 Anomaly

Conductance through quantum point contacts displays a set of steps in integer units of e2/h, as the point contact opens. An additional shoulder at around 0.7 times that integer value has been attributed to the formation of a quasi-localized state as the point contact opens up. The ramifications of such a quasi-localized state are investigated, with emphasis on may-body effects.


Chemotaxis in Bacteria

Bacteria can sense gradients of food or temperature and can move accordingly. This chemotaxis network has been investigated by biologists for decades. Simple physical considerations can be applied to this network, to produce quantitative predictions and critical comparison with experiments.