Tatiana G. Rappoport
Pesquisadora Titular I
Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas
Associate Researcher
International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory
My research focuses on quantum materials and their optical, electronic, and spin properties. I am particularly interested in two-dimensional materials and van der Waals heterostructures. We study these systems using model Hamiltonians, tight-binding Hamiltonians derived from density functional theory (DFT), and analytical and numerical methods for quantum transport. Developing new theoretical tools is also an important part of our work.
Although our research is mainly driven by fundamental questions, many of the problems we investigate are relevant to future information technologies. The materials and physical effects we study may offer new routes towards electronic devices that are more efficient and rely on more sustainable materials.
One direction we have been pursuing is the search for alternatives to heavy metals in spin–charge interconversion. This has led us to orbitronics, an emerging field in which the orbital motion of electrons—and the magnetic moment associated with it—is used to carry and encode information, complementing the role traditionally played by the electron spin.
More recently, I have also become interested in the interplay between topology and optics, particularly in photonic systems. I want to understand how topology shapes the behavior of light and how it can be used to uncover and control new optical phenomena.
You can read more about some of my current research interests below.
Undegraduate and graduate students are welcome! Prospective graduate students are encouraged to explore my research lines to identify potential research topics. If you are interested in working with me in an inclusive enviroment, please contact me via email.
I am a co-founder of Quantum KITE, an open-source software designed to streamline the process of electronic structure and bulk quantum transport property simulations of disordered systems. With a focus on efficient real-space tight-binding (TB) simulations, KITE is capable of scaling up to multi billions of atomic orbitals at a relatively modest computational cost.
I also co-founded "Tem Menina no Circuito" in 2013 with other two female physics professors to promote girls' interest in exact sciences and technology, particularly in STEM fields, and to increase their enrollment in university courses. The project operates in low-income areas of Rio de Janeiro, where the majority of students do not go to college after high school. Our main goal is to encourage the pursuit of higher education among girls and address the low representation of women in STEM fields.
If you're interested in learning more about my research and outreach initiatives, check list of online seminars. They cover topics related to my research, focused on spintronics and orbitronics. The majority of the videos are in English, and they provide an in-depth look at the research I'm conducting in these fields. I have also included some outreach activities in Portuguese, related to science communication and engagement with the public. Whether you're a fellow researcher or simply curious about the work I do, I hope you'll find something of interest.