LIGHTER · Light and matter on critical timescales, studied by nonlinear terahertz spectroscopy
FP7 — People (Marie Curie Actions)
- Duration
- 2013-03-01 → 2017-02-28
- EU contribution
- €100,000
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MC-CIG
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Light and matter on critical timescales, studied by nonlinear terahertz spectroscopy
In this project we experimentally studied the behavior of light and matter on the timescales, at which their fundamental properties are being formed. We wanted to find out how fast do some of the fundamental physical phenomena occur, and what exactly governs these critical timescales. Using linear and nonlinear ultrafast terahertz (THz) spectroscopy as an experimental method, and semiconductors, metals and graphene as material systems, we investigated the key fundamental critical-timescale processes, which underly modern electronics technologies, and are of great fundamental interest at the same time. Among many other results, we have achieved a number of significant breakthroughs, which led to publications in Nature research journals (4 such papers in total). Below I highlight two of them. 1) Using our method of nonlinear THz spectroscopy, we have established that the conductive properties of graphene on technologically relevant ultrafast (picosecond and faster) timescales are fully governed by the thermodynamic balance maintained within its electronic population, which at all times can be considered as a thermalized electron gas. Our finding, in particular, explains the operation speed barrier for current generation of ultrafast graphene transistors, and paves the way to breaking this barrier. This result has been published in Nature Communications, see Ref. [14] in the list of publications. 2) Using our method of THz magneto-spectroscopy, we have been able, for the first time, to directly measure and spin-resolve the duration of elementary electric currents in ferromagnetic nanofilms. The overall electrical properties of matter is being formed on an extremely short timescale of elementary ultrafast acts of electrical conduction, which only last few tens of femtoseconds. Moreover, as a result of strong electron-electron correlations, these durations are different for the electrons with different spin orientations. Here, for the first time, we were able to observe these elementary currents, and to establish the timescales on which the conductive properties of ferromagnetic metals are being established. This result has been published in Nature Physics, see Ref. [15] in the list of publications.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
In this project we will experimentally study the behaviour of light and matter on the timescales, at which their fundamental properties are being formed. We define such critical timescales as:For light - the timescale of a single optical cycle. This naturally requires the sub-cycle time resolution in the experiments.For matter – the time during which the quantum-mechanical dimensionality (e.g. 0D or 3D) in the material can be established or significantly modified.We want to find out how fast do some of the fundamental physical phenomena occur, and what exactly governs these critical timescales. Presently there is no concrete answer to this “how fast?” question regarding establishment of many physical properties. Many phenomena are simply referred to as “instantaneous”, i.e. occurring on zero timescale, which is a euphemism for “we don’t know how fast they are”.Using nonlinear ultrafast terahertz (THz) spectroscopy as an experimental method, and semiconductors as a material system, in this project we will investigate the following problems:1) Development of optical supercontinuum from a single cycle of light in a nonlinear medium. We aim to directly observe the synthesis of new frequencies in the optical signal.2) How fast can one modulate a simple quantum-mechanical system by an external field? How fast is Stark effect, and what constitutes the maximum electro-absorption modulation speed limit?3) How fast is the creation of quantum-mechanical dimensionality in a crystal? How fast the energy band in a crystal, a result of interference of the wavefunctions of individual atomic potentials, is formed? What governs this time scale? Is it the reciprocal of energy width of the band?
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV · MUNCHENCoordinatorGermany
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union