Project description
A closer look at atoms in motion
The tiniest movements of atoms and electrons shifting in space and time underpin every material around us. However, this occurs on scales too fast and small to observe directly. Funded by the ERC, the ULMI project will use ultrashort electron pulses to capture these processes with nanometre and atomic precision. In addition to visualising laser-excited reactions, ULMI will study natural, unspecific reaction dynamics statistically, revealing previously hidden femtosecond phenomena. This promises unprecedented insights into materials science, nanophotonics, electronics, magnetism, chemistry and atomic physics. By understanding how matter behaves at its most fundamental level, ULMI hopes to optimise the functionality of advanced materials, promoting innovation in technology, energy and everyday life.
Objective
Atoms and electrons are the central building blocks of almost all materials around us. Whenever there is a process or change, the atoms and the electrons have to move from initial to final configurations. These movements are very fast and very small: nanometers to picometers in space and femtoseconds to attoseconds in time. Ultrafast electron microscopy can provide a movie-like access, but we can only see processes that are excited by special laser light, although many reaction phenomena in nature proceed with a much less specific stimulus. This project has two major aims. (a) We will use sequences of ultrashort electron pulses to develop novel ways to understand ultrasmall and ultrafast material dynamics with nanometer/atomic control. (b) We will advance ultrafast spectroscopy and imaging towards a statistical investigation of reaction dynamics as they occur in unspecific ways. We will become capable of understanding reaction dynamics on atomic scales and obtain first-ever insight into femtosecond processes in so far unobservable regimes. Based on these new capabilities, we will investigate a broad range of questions in materials science, nanophotonics, electronic circuitry, magnetism, chemistry and atomic physics, in order to better understand and optimize the functionality of advanced materials for technology and life.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nanophotonics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
78464 Konstanz
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.