Ultrafast studies of nonequilibrium matter

Both from a fundamental perspective and for the development of next-generation devices, experimental and theoretical investigations into diverse many-body ordering processes in quantum materials are performed. Our research employs a wide array of experimental techniques, which include optical methods, lab-on-a-chip technologies, as well as magnetic and non-magnetic XUV and electron diffraction probes. Additionally, we leverage large-scale free-electron laser facilities to expand our capabilities to include time-resolved elastic and inelastic x-ray diffraction, TR-ARPES (Time-Resolved Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy), and various kinds of imaging.

Furthermore, we are actively engaged in the development of innovative techniques for exploring the evolution of many-body systems over intermediate timescales, spanning from microseconds to picoseconds. These advancements rely on rapid scanning and laser-pulse gated tunneling microscopies.

Review article on the topic:

1. Giannetti, C., Capone, M., Fausti, D. & Fabrizio, M. Ultrafast optical spectroscopy of strongly correlated materials and high-temperature superconductors: a non-equilibrium approach. Adv Phys 65, 58–238 (2016).

Some of our articles on the topic:

1. Bozin, E. S. et al. Crystallization of polarons through charge and spin ordering transitions in 1T-TaS2. Nat. Commun. 14, 7055 (2023).
2. Jarc, G. et al. Cavity-mediated thermal control of metal-to-insulator transition in 1T-TaS2. Nature 622, 487–492 (2023).
3. Ravnik, J. et al. Chiral domain dynamics and transient interferences of mirrored superlattices in nonequilibrium electronic crystals. Sci. Rep. 13, 19622 (2023).
4. Mraz, A. et al. Manipulation of fractionalized charge in the metastable topologically entangled state of a doped Wigner crystal. Nat. Commun. 14, 8214 (2023).
5. Kranjec, A. et al. Electronic Dislocation Dynamics in Metastable Wigner Crystal States. Symmetry 14, 926 (2022).
6. Ravnik, J. et al. Quantum billiards with correlated electrons confined in triangular transition metal dichalcogenide monolayer nanostructures. Nat Commun 12, 3793 (2021).
7. Ravnik, J. et al. A time-domain phase diagram of metastable states in a charge ordered quantum material. Nat Commun 12, 2323 (2021).
8. Naseska, M. et al. Orbitally driven insulator-metal transition in CuIr2S4: Temperature-dependent transient reflectivity study. Phys. Rev. B 101, 165134 (2020).
9. Gerasimenko, Y. A., Karpov, P., Vaskivskyi, I., Brazovskii, S. & Mihailovic, D. Intertwined chiral charge orders and topological stabilization of the light-induced state of a prototypical transition metal dichalcogenide. Npj Quantum Mater 4, 1–9 (2019).
10. Nasretdinova, V. et al. Unveiling the electronic transformations in the semi-metallic correlated-electron transitional oxide Mo8O23. Sci Rep-uk 9, 1–11 (2019).
11. Gerasimenko, Y. A. et al. Quantum jamming transition to a correlated electron glass in 1T-TaS 2. Nat Mater 317, 505–1083 (2019).
12. Guyader, L. L. et al. Stacking order dynamics in the quasi-two-dimensional dichalcogenide 1 T-TaS 2probed with MeV ultrafast electron diffraction. Struct Dynam-us 4, 044020–8 (2017).
13. Klanjšek, M. et al. A high-temperature quantum spin liquid with polaron spins. Nat. Phys. 13, 1130–1134 (2017).
14. Vaskivskyi, I. et al. Fast electronic resistance switching involving hidden charge density wave states. Nat Commun 7, 11442 (2016).
15. Buh, J. et al. Control of switching between metastable superconducting states in \$\textbackslashdelta\$-MoN nanowires. Nature communications 6, 1–6 (2015).
16. Madan, I. et al. Evidence for carrier localization in the pseudogap state of cuprate superconductors from coherent quench experiments. Nat Commun 6, 6958 (2015).
17. Vaskivskyi, I. et al. Controlling the metal-to-insulator relaxation of the metastable hidden quantum state in 1T-TaS 2. Sci. Adv. 1, e1500168 (2015).
18. Gadermaier, C., Kabanov, V. V., Alexandrov, A. S., Mihailovic, D. & Mihailovic, D. Strain-induced enhancement of the electron energy relaxation in strongly correlated superconductors. Phys Rev X 4, 011056 (2014).
19. Stojchevska, L. et al. Ultrafast Switching to a Stable Hidden Quantum State in an Electronic Crystal. Science 344, 177–180 (2014).
20. Mertelj, T. et al. Incoherent topological defect recombination dynamics in TbTe3. Phys Rev Lett 110, 156401 (2013).
21. Yusupov, R. et al. Coherent dynamics of macroscopic electronic order through a symmetry breaking transition. Nat Phys 6, 681–684 (2010).