Victor Brar

Victor Brar is a Van Vleck Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focuses on scanning tunneling microscopy, 2D materials, and advanced optical systems. Key areas include graphene plasmonics, thermal emission control, and nanoscale device engineering. Brar leads the Brar Lab, which explores quantum transport phenomena and novel materials for optoelectronic applications. He collaborates with the Condensed Matter Experiment group and has pioneered techniques in scanned probe microscopy and metasurface design.

Brar’s work bridges experimental physics with cutting-edge instrumentation. Recent advancements include dynamic beam steering in thermal lasers and electrostatic modulation of delocalized modes. His research also addresses challenges in laser sail thermal stability and single photon emitter characterization in 2D semiconductors.

Key contributions include developing tunable mid-infrared plasmonic devices and demonstrating gate-variable optical transitions in topological insulators. His lab employs advanced imaging techniques like Kelvin probe force microscopy and photothermal interferometry for material defect analysis. Current projects explore haptic feedback systems for intuitive microscopy control and vibration isolation for cryogenic environments.