Project description
New theoretical foundations support the prediction and discovery of photoinduced phases in materials
Phase transitions and broken symmetry are interrelated and widespread in physics, mathematics, and engineering, fundamental to phenomena from superconductivity to the particle physics of the early universe. Broken symmetry with a phase transition means that the new state has a symmetry not shown by the system in its ground state. Ultrafast lasers can induce reversible and irreversible phase transitions but the theory to explain these phenomena is largely lacking. The EU-funded DELIGHT project plans to fill this knowledge gap, developing a theoretical strategy to predict and discover photoinduced phases in materials. It will guide future experiments and the rational development of novel materials and devices.
Objective
Ultrafast lasers sources open new perspectives in exploring broken symmetry phases as it becomes possible to promote a substantial number of electrons in excited states generating a thermalized electron-hole plasma and leading to reversible or irreversible phase transitions. Light-induced charge density waves, order-disorder transitions, melting, stabilization of topological phases and laser-tunable ferroelectricity have been demonstrated. Experiments are far ahead of theory as few (if any) of the demonstrated light-induced phenomena have been predicted by theory.
DELIGHT aims to develop a theoretical strategy to predict and discover photoinduced phases in materials. To accomplish this goal, we will develop quantum-chemical and molecular dynamics schemes including the effect of the thermalized electron-hole plasma on the crystal potential and accounting for light-induced non-perturbative quantum anharmonicity.
DELIGHT will answer these questions: which systems undergo light induced phase transitions ? Can we use light pulses to enhance or tune charge density wave, ferroelectric and magnetic critical temperatures, to generate new topological phases or to optimize the properties of thermoelectric materials ? Can we develop an inverse design strategy, namely given a target property, determine which material will have to be photoexcited and at which fluence to obtain it ?
The proposal will impact chemistry, physics, energy and material engineering. It could lead, for example, to the development of devices with dynamical light switching on/off of magnetism or ferroelectricity, relevant for ultrafast memories, or to the stabilization of new thermoelectric compounds with photo-tunable thermal conductivity and figure of merit. DELIGHT will foster these and similar developments by implementing a fundamentally new and unique database of out-of-equilibrium accessible states of matter that will be a reference for future experiments.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabases
- natural scienceschemical sciencesphysical chemistryquantum chemistry
- engineering and technologymaterials engineering
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicsultrafast lasers
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesmolecular and chemical physics
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-AG - HORIZON Action Grant Budget-BasedHost institution
38122 Trento
Italy