Title: Flat bands: an obstruction or a resource?
Venue: Small Lecture Theatre
Abstract: The kinetic energy of quantum particles in periodic potentials is characterized by Bloch bands, which give rise to phenomena that differ dramatically from those in free space. Periodic potentials have served as a versatile platform, enabling insights ranging from the behavior of quasiparticles such as holes to the emergence of massless Dirac particles. A particularly intriguing case is that of flat Bloch bands, where quantum interference completely suppresses kinetic mobility. In this colloquium, I will explore how flat Bloch bands dramatically influence well-known phenomena such as Bose-Einstein condensation and superconductivity. I will also discuss recent experimental advancements across various platforms that shed light on these effects.