Harnessing nonthermal phenomena in quantum materials
Dr. Alberto de la Torre Duran
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Physics, Brown University
Competing exotic phases of matter emerge in quantum materials due to complex interactions between charge, lattice, spin, and orbital degrees of freedom. The control of their macroscopic properties via external perturbations is essential to the realization of new technological applications. Ultrafast light-matter coupling enables unique mechanisms to access new out-of-equilibrium phases of matter in a controlled and reversible manner, which can then be harnessed towards next-generation technology [1].
In this talk, I will discuss how the discovery of ultrafast nonthermal critical behavior in a Mott insulator has implications for future THz spintronic technology [2]. Additionally, I will introduce recent experimental results extending time-resolved spectroscopic techniques to the 2D atomic limit [3] aiming to combine ultrafast light-matter interaction with Van-der-Waals devices.
[1] A. de la Torre et al., Colloquium: Nonthermal pathways to ultrafast control in quantum materials, Rev. Mod. Phys. 93, 041002 (2021)
[2] A. de la Torre et al., Decoupling of static and dynamic antiferromagnetic critical behavior in an optically pumped Mott insulator, Communications Physics 5, 35 (2022)
[3] A. de la Torre et al., in preparation
Hosted by Prof. Assaf
email physics@nd.edu for zoom link