Non-equilibrium dynamics in solids probed by terahertz fields (B08#)

• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2018 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 278162697

In this project we will use ultrafast terahertz (THz) spectroscopy to study the non-equilibrium dynamics of electrons and the lattice in solids. Ultrafast THz spectroscopy is a femtosecond-laser based, all-optical method, ideally suited to probe the conductivity of materials, including its ultrafast dynamics. In the first funding period we will concentrate on the two key topics of the electric conductivity dynamics. 1) Photoexcited pnictogen metals Bi, Sb and As undergoing the ultrafast photoinduced structural phase transition; 2) Sub-100 fs dynamics of hot electron population in graphene, undergoing the primary thermalization process; and the effect of direct lattice excitation of graphene on its conductivity.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1242: Non-equilibrium dynamics of condensed matter in the time domain
• Major Instrumentation: Linear fiber laser
• Applicant Institution: Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Project Head: Professor Dmitry Turchinovich, Ph.D.