Objective We propose to investigate the coherent trajectories of many-body systems undergoing symmetry-breaking transitions (SBTs) in real time, where trajectories are meant here in a mathematical sense used to describe the dynamics of nonlinear systems. The key idea which makes this project possible is the development of a specific femtosecond laser spectroscopy technique which allows us to distinguish the order parameter dynamics in complex matter systems from hot-electron energy relaxation, quasiparticle recombination processes, damping and dephasing of coherent phonon oscillations. This allows real-time high resolution investigations of the critical system trajectories through SBTs, beyond the capabilities of current state of the art time-resolved techniques. We will investigate coherent collective field oscillations and the fundamentals of topological defect creation by the Kibble-Zurek mechanism including a study of their annihilation in the aftermath of SBTs. We will aim to control the coherent trajectories at bifurcation points by laser pulses and external fields. We will address fundamental questions on the effect of symmetry and fundamental interactions of underlying microscopic vacua on global behaviour. Systems included in our study belong to a number of different universality classes and include the study of nontrivial transitions to newly discovered hidden states of matter. In the general framework of reductionism, we expect our findings to have fundamental bearing on our understanding of SBTs revealing predictive tell-tale signatures of critical events of relevance in areas beyond many-body condensed matter physics, in elementary particle physics, primordial cosmological events and tipping points in nonlinear systems. Transition trajectories to and from hidden states are of particular interest for practical applications in new femtosecond state change memory devices. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesatomic physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-PE3 - ERC Advanced Grant - Condensed matter physics Call for proposal ERC-2012-ADG_20120216 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Host institution INSTITUT JOZEF STEFAN EU contribution € 1 206 627,50 Address Jamova 39 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia See on map Region Slovenija Zahodna Slovenija Osrednjeslovenska Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Dragan Mihailovic (Prof.) Administrative Contact Jadran Lenarčič (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all INSTITUT JOZEF STEFAN Slovenia EU contribution € 1 206 627,50 Address Jamova 39 1000 Ljubljana See on map Region Slovenija Zahodna Slovenija Osrednjeslovenska Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Dragan Mihailovic (Prof.) Administrative Contact Jadran Lenarčič (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CENTER ODLICNOSTI NANOZNANOSTI IN NANOTEHNOLOGIJE - NANOCENTER, LJUBLJANA Slovenia EU contribution € 296 972,50 Address Jamova cesta 39 1000 Ljubljana See on map Region Slovenija Zahodna Slovenija Osrednjeslovenska Activity type Other Administrative Contact Martina Knavs (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
