Project description
Capturing electron motion in slow motion
For decades, scientists have dreamed of directly observing the motion of electrons within quantum mechanical orbitals – an elusive feat crucial for understanding the nanocosmos. The challenge lies in capturing this motion with the ultrafast time resolution necessary to reveal the intricate details of electronic orbitals. The ERC-funded Orbital Cinema project aims to turn this dream into reality. By combining advanced techniques like photoemission orbital tomography (POT) and ultrafast photoelectron spectroscopy, the project will create slow-motion movies of molecular orbitals at femto- to attosecond scales. This innovation is expected to revolutionise fields such as optoelectronics and photochemistry, offering unprecedented insights into quantum processes and potentially transforming the future of technology.
Objective
Directly watching in slow-motion videos how electrons move in quantum mechanical orbitals and how this motion shapes the functionalities of condensed matter has been a dream shared by all natural and life sciences. Yet, this vision comes with the daunting challenge of mapping the microscopic structure of electronic orbitals with simultaneous ultrafast time resolution. We will turn orbital cinematography into reality. This seminal breakthrough will rely on the unique synergies between photoemission orbital tomography (POT), ultrafast photoelectron spectroscopy, lightwave electronics and advanced theory, developed and pioneered by us. Secured by our recent proof-of-principle studies, we will combine these aspects to transform POT to a cinematography at unprecedented time scales, faster than a single oscillation period of light. This will allow us to systematically explore the nanocosmos on its intrinsic femto- to attosecond (the billionth part of a billionth of a second) scales. We will take actual slow-motion movies of molecular orbitals during charge transfer processes, surface chemical reactions, and wave packet motion driven by lightwaves. Orbital Cinema will thus resolve key questions related to a wide range of applications, from next-generation optoelectronics, energy conversion, photochemistry and catalysis to prospective electronics at optical clock rates. We expect it to revolutionize our understanding of the nanocosmos by elucidating–on elementary spatio-temporal scales–the inner structure of quantum leaps, strong-field control of electrons, charge transfer processes, and chemical reactions as well as their control by electric fields and light. Since the dawn of quantum mechanics, the temporal evolution of electronic orbitals has been among the most sought-after, yet elusive quantum processes. Our model-free observation of orbital motion establishes an unprecedented ultrafast wave function lab that will carry us to the very foundations of quantum science.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics optoelectronics
- natural sciences chemical sciences physical chemistry photochemistry
- humanities arts modern and contemporary art cinematography
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- 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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HORIZON.1.1 - 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.
HORIZON-ERC-SYG - HORIZON ERC Synergy 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-2022-SYG
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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.
52428 JULICH
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.