Yan Sun

Yan Sun is Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and leads the Topological Transport Theory group at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (MPI CPfS) in Dresden. His research bridges electromagnetic response theory, symmetry principles, and topology to predict novel transport phenomena in quantum materials, with emphasis on experimental realization through collaborations.

Research Interests: Sun investigates symmetry-forbidden transport effects in topological systems, including anomalous Hall/Nernst effects, spin Hall phenomena, magnetoresistances, and higher-order responses like second-order Hall effects and giant photovoltaic effects. His group combines model Hamiltonians with density functional theory to connect fundamental physics with material properties, focusing on magnetic Weyl semimetals and topological catalysts.

Publication Trends: Recent works demonstrate expertise in topological insulators/semimetals, with 2018–2015 publications emphasizing Berry curvature engineering, symmetry-protected states, and prediction of materials for spintronics applications. Research consistently targets transport anomalies arising from topological charge and magnetism.

Scientific Awards: None mentioned in source text.

Advising and Collaborations: Leads active MPI CPfS group with current members Yang Zhang (Visiting Scientist) and Jonathan Noky (Research Technician), plus former member Quinan Xu. Maintains extensive experimental partnership with Claudia Felser’s group on topological/magnetic materials for spintronics, catalysis, and surface-state characterization.

Labs and Teams: Directs the Topological Transport Theory group within MPI CPfS’s Topological Quantum Chemistry department, focusing on database development for inversion-symmetry-broken Weyl semimetals and nonlinear optical responses. Research integrates theoretical modeling with experimental validation to realize predicted quantum phenomena.