Project description
Controlling solids' electronic properties with light could lead to novel optoelectronic devices
Solid materials can be classified as metals, semiconductors or insulators based on their conductivity (or resistivity) and energy bands. The energy of electrons in isolated atoms is different from that in solids, where electrons of neighbouring atoms come very close and even overlap at times. Whereas electrons in free atoms have discrete energy levels, their available energy states in solids form so-called 'energy bands'. Insulators are characterised by a large gap between the energy band of more stable electrons and that of more 'excitable' ones, whereas metals are characterised by overlaps in bands. The EU-funded DANCE project is investigating novel optical methods to control the energy bands of solids, opening the door to new optoelectronic devices and applications.
Objective
The band structure of solids is mainly determined by the orbital overlap between neighboring atoms. Therefore, electronic properties are commonly controlled via the chemical composition that determines the relevant structural parameters such as bond angles and lengths. DANCE will use a radically different approach where control of the effective orbital overlap is achieved by periodic modulation of the solid with strong mid-infrared and terahertz light fields. In this way, DANCE will control the band structure including topology, many-body-interactions, and spin. The induced band structure changes will be investigated with time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.
I will implement two different driving schemes that either coherently modulate the atomic positions or the momentum of the Bloch electrons. Resonant excitation of infrared-active phonon modes results in a periodic modulation of the band structure at twice the driving frequency and, thus, a modified average band structure. In addition, non-linear coupling to Raman-active phonons leads to new quasi-static crystal and band structures. Coherent modulation of the Bloch electrons momentum becomes possible if the scattering time is bigger than the inverse driving frequency and is predicted to result in various topological phase transitions as well as dynamical localization of carriers. I will apply this approach to different low-dimensional solids with strong electron-phonon coupling and Dirac materials with long scattering times.
DANCE will address the following key questions: Can we switch between metallic, insulating and topological phases? Can we shape the potential energy surface of the solid to stabilize symmetry-broken ground states? Can we generate artificial magnetic fields to control the electron spin? The success of DANCE will establish dynamical band structure engineering as a new method for electronic structure control and pave the way for novel optoelectronic and optospintronic devices.
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 electromagnetism and electronics optoelectronics
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics topology
- natural sciences physical sciences atomic physics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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-2019-STG
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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.
93053 Regensburg
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.