Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Uncovering Phonon Dynamics by Advanced Raman Techniques

Project description

Taking a new look at a hot topic with advanced spectroscopy techniques

Electronic equipment generates heat and heat interferes with the function of electrical circuits – that is why your computer has a fan. Heat dissipation is one of the most important considerations in design. For example, it is critical to increasing processing speed and memory in a cell phone or laptop. A phonon is like a packet of heat, much as a photon is a packet of light. The EU-funded Phonon-ART project is characterising phonon dynamics with cutting-edge methods. Understanding how and why the behaviour of these heat-generating mechanical vibrations in atomic lattices differs on the nanoscale from what is predicted based on the macroscopic level will aid engineers in the design of future technologies. It could also lead to extremely sensitive temperature sensors for future applications.

Objective

In many technologies, heat management becomes the bottleneck for the next generation development. Phonons are mechanical vibrations of the atomic lattice that are responsible for the transmission of heat in many relevant materials, like semiconductors, thus controlling them analogously to photons and electrons is indispensable. Advanced time-resolved Raman spectroscopies enable the extraction of relevant information such as phonon spectra, lifetimes, and relaxation times, all critical to understanding thermal transport through advanced materials. In this project we aim to apply these techniques to solve two important open questions: (i) how to engineer the temperature sensors of the future based on diamond-based materials; and (ii) understanding the underlying physical mechanism responsible for deviations from the macroscopic predictions for nanoscale system, such as hypersonic surface phononic crystals, critical to technological applications. For this purpose, I propose four main objectives to the project. First, implementing an ultrafast time-resolved spontaneous Raman method to access the timescale of the absolute phonon mode population. Second, implementing a time-resolved stimulated Raman spectroscopy technique to explore the coherence of selectively excited phonons. Third, extending this technique to a time-resolved coherent anti-Stokes Raman (CARS) spectroscopy to probe the population dephasing lifetime of the system and energy relaxation time. This project will significantly advance the field of ultrafast, nano, materials and thermal science and will extend European knowledge in two different directions: advancing the current metrology tools by means of a fully developed time-resolved CARS setup at University of Basel, and studying energy flow dynamics in novel materials that will impact both fundamental understanding and technological applications.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITAT BASEL
Net EU contribution
€ 203 149,44
Address
PETERSPLATZ 1
4051 Basel
Switzerland
Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Nordwestschweiz Basel-Stadt
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 203 149,44