Objective Understanding the quantum many-particle problem is one of the grand challenges of modern physics. Whiletremendous progresses have been made over the past decades in thermodynamic equilibrium, nonequilibriummany-body quantum physics is still in its infancy. Strong motivation for addressing thischallenge comes from recent experimental developments in diverse areas, ranging from cold atomic gasesover light-driven semiconductors to microcavity arrays. This moves systems into the focus, which arelocated on the interface of quantum optics, many-body physics and statistical mechanics. They share incommon that coherent and driven-dissipative quantum dynamics occur on an equal footing, creatingscenarios without immediate counterpart in traditional condensed matter systems. This project has the goal ofpushing forward the understanding of such driven open quantum systems.To this end, we follow a combined approach structured around three key challenges. (i) We aim to identifynovel macroscopic phenomena, which manifestly witness microscopic non-equilibrium conditions. Thisconcerns non-thermal stationary states, where we will shape an understanding of non-equilibrium phasediagrams and the associated phase transitions, in particular constructing a notion of driven quantumcriticality. But it also encompasses the identification of new universal regimes in open system timeevolution. Finally, we will extend the concept of topological order to a broader non-equilibrium context,motivated by quantum information applications. (ii) We will create new theoretical tools, in particularadvancing a flexible Keldysh dynamical quantum field theory for driven open quantum systems. (iii) We willaddress a broad spectrum of cutting edge experimental platforms in view of exploring our theoreticalscenarios, and to foster mutual cross-fertilization. With an emphasis on cold atomic gases, this program alsocomprises exciton-polariton condensates and coupled circuit QED architectures. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsfermionsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesquantum physicsquantum field theorynatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivitynatural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsstatistical mechanicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesquantum physicsquantum optics Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-CoG-2014 - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-CoG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Coordinator UNIVERSITAT ZU KOLN Net EU contribution € 1 676 423,75 Address Albertus magnus platz 50931 Koln Germany See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAT ZU KOLN Germany Net EU contribution € 1 676 423,75 Address Albertus magnus platz 50931 Koln See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Köln, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00