Quantum Condensed Matter Dynamics

The Condensed Matter Dynamics group is led by Prof. Andrea Cavalleri and focuses on non-equilibrium phenomena in solids. Especially, we investigate how electronic and structural order can emerge as a result external drives, how transitions occur in solids dynamically and how energy flows into and away from a solid. Light-control of superconductivity, ferroelectricity, magnetism and of topological phase transitions have been at the centre of our research.

Recent Research Highlights

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Nonlinear Phononics
Probing the Interatomic Potential of Solids with Strong-Field Nonlinear Phononics
A. von Hoegen et. al., Nature, 555, 79–82 (2018)
Nonlinear lattice dynamics as a basis for enhanced superconductivity in YBa₂Cu₃O_6.5
R. Mankowsky et. al., Nature, 516 , 71–73 (2014)
Nonlinear phononics as an ultrafast route to lattice control
M. Först et. al., Nature Physics, 7, 854–856 (2011)
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Nonlinear Phononics

Probing the Interatomic Potential of Solids with Strong-Field Nonlinear Phononics
A. von Hoegen et. al., Nature, 555, 79–82 (2018)

Nonlinear lattice dynamics as a basis for enhanced superconductivity in YBa₂Cu₃O_6.5
R. Mankowsky et. al., Nature, 516 , 71–73 (2014)

Nonlinear phononics as an ultrafast route to lattice control
M. Först et. al., Nature Physics, 7, 854–856 (2011)

Read more ...

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Light induced Superconductivity in alkali doped C₆₀
M. Mitrano et. al., Nature, 530, 461–464 (2016)

Pressure tuning of light-induced superconductivity in K₃C₆₀
A. Cantaluppi et. al., Nature Physics, 14, 837–841 (2018)

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Light induced Superconductivity in high-Tc cuprates

Light induced Superconductivity in a Stripe-ordered Cuprate.
D. Fausti et. al., Science, 331, 6014 189-191 (2011)

Optically enhanced coherent transport in YBa2Cu3O6.5 by ultrafast redistribution of interlayer coupling. W. Hu et. al., Nature Materials, 13, 705–711 (2014)

Nonlinear lattice dynamics as a basis for enhanced superconductivity in YBa₂Cu₃O_6.5
R. Mankowsky et. al., Nature, 516 , 71–73 (2014)

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Nonlinear control at hetero-interfaces

Spatially resolved ultrafast magnetic dynamics launched at a complex-oxide hetero-interface.
M. Först et. al., Nature Materials, 14, 883-888 (2015)

Ultrafast Strain Engineering in Complex Oxide Heterostructures
A. D. Caviglia et. al., Physical Review Letters, 108, 136801 (2012)

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Josephson Plasmonics

Parametric amplification of a superconducting plasma wave
S. Rajasekaran et. al., Nature Physics, 12, 1012–1016 (2016)

Optical excitation of Josephson plasma solitons in a cuprate superconductor
A. Dienst, et. al., Nature Materials, 12, 535-541 (2013)

Bi-directional ultrafast electric-field gating of interlayer charge transport in a cuprate superconductor. A. Dienst et. al., Nature Photonics, 5, 485-488 (2011)

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Dynamical Ferroelectricity

Metastable ferroelectricity in optically strained SrTiO₃
T. Nova et. al., Science, 364, 645 1075-1079 (2019)

Ultrafast reversal of the ferroelectric polarization
R. Mankowsky et. al., Physical Review Letters, 118, 197601 (2017)

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Nonlinear THz spectroscopy of Quantum Materials

Probing optically silent superfluid stripes in cuprates
S. Rajasekaran et. al., Science, 369, 6375, 575-579 (2018)