Light-driven phase manipulation of nanomaterials

Selective excitations with ultra-short light pulses have recently emerged as a new tool for electronic structure control, complementing more traditional tools based on chemistry, confinement, pressure, or magnetic fields.

Famous examples include light-induced superconducting states far above the equilibrium critical temperature in cuprates, insulator-to-metal phase transitions and the melting of magnetic order.

The aim of this project is exploring the possibilities of electronic band structure engineering of novel materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and black phosphorus (BP), using tailored ultra-short light pulses with wavelength from visible to terahertz range.

This goal will be pursued with a pump-probe time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (tr-ARPES) experimental technique and complemented with non-equilibrium theory based on the density functional theorem (DFT) and Green´s function approximation obtained through a collaboration. The project implies hiring a PhD student who will carry the reasearch program together with the applicant.

First half of the project time will be dedicated to studies using visible-infrared light and an intense terahertz radiation source will be constructed for further studies during the second half.

Successful outcome of the project will enable to increase the performance of novel opto-electronic devices and to understand the dynamics and underlying mechanisms of ultrafast phase transitions.