Probing condensed matter with space-time-synthesized light pulses

用时空合成光脉冲探测凝聚态物质

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-04618
• 负责人: Sederberg, Shawn
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=752991
• 关键词: Probing; condensed; matter; space; time

This research program will focus on the development of a new class of light source and its application to electro-optic (EO) nanosensors and petahertz (1PHz = 10^{15}Hz) quantum electronics in 2D materials. By merging tools developed by the structured light and attosecond communities, we will sculpt the spatiotemporal structure of single-cycle light pulses, providing light with unprecedented flexibility. At a time when ultimate control over matter (e.g. quantum matter, metasurfaces) plays a central role in tailoring light-matter interaction, this program will complement advanced materials with precision light. Spatially resolved electro-optic sampling (SREOS) will be used to measure the spatiotemporal structure of the synthesized light pulses. Characterizing the fields that comprise light unlocks details of light-matter interaction on sub-cycle (i.e. attosecond, 1as = 10^{-18}s) timescales and subwavelength (i.e. nanometer, 1nm = 10^{-9}m) spatial scales. Access to these scales has conventionally required cumbersome techniques such as near field microscopy and attosecond streaking. The superior data quality and compatibility with ambient lab conditions afforded by SREOS will vastly expand the scope of measurements and the resulting physical insight that are possible. In a first application, we will develop sensitive EO nanosensors, where the EO signal originates from symmetry-broken nanoantennas and is spatially confined to nm volumes. Using broadband synthesized pulses, we will characterize the sensitivity, dynamic range and spectral response of the sensors. The latter will be tailored using the nanostructure geometry. Imaging EOS be used to record the spatiotemporal evolution of fields collected by individual nanoantennas. We will then apply incoherent light to the nanosensors and sensitively sample this light in a single-shot manner. We aim to demonstrate state-of-the-art sensitivity in electro-optic nanosensors. In the second direction, we will apply the synthesized fields to 2D materials. Using SREOS, we will sample light that has undergone extreme nonlinear interactions with 2D materials, providing insight into the nonlinear polarization response, light-matter energy exchange and electronic bandstructure. The ensuing attosecond correlated electron dynamics will be mapped onto a weak mid-infrared probe pulse and measured in the far-field via SREOS. Particular attention will be devoted to understanding the role of properties such as OAM in shaping attosecond electron dynamics. We aim to reveal new fundamental insight into quantum electronic processes in 2D materials, laying the foundation for PHz quantum electronic device applications. This program will train 3 PhD, 2 MSc, and 5 UG students in ultrafast laser development, nanofabrication, structured light and quantum matter. The joint emphasis on engineering and physics will prepare the students equally for careers in Canada's technology industry or academia.

该研究项目将专注于开发一种新型光源，并将其应用于二维材料中的电光（EO）纳米传感器和petahertz （1PHz = 10^{15}Hz）量子电子学。通过融合结构光和阿秒社区开发的工具，我们将塑造单周期光脉冲的时空结构，为光提供前所未有的灵活性。当最终控制物质（例如量子物质，超表面）在裁剪光-物质相互作用中起着核心作用时，该计划将以精确光补充先进材料。空间分辨电光采样（SREOS）将用于测量合成光脉冲的时空结构。表征包含光的场可以在亚周期（即阿秒，1as = 10^{-18}s）时间尺度和亚波长（即纳米，1nm = 10^{-9}m）空间尺度上揭示光-物质相互作用的细节。获得这些尺度通常需要繁琐的技术，如近场显微镜和阿秒条纹。SREOS提供的优越数据质量和与环境实验室条件的兼容性将极大地扩展测量范围和由此产生的物理洞察力。在第一个应用中，我们将开发灵敏的EO纳米传感器，其中EO信号来自对称破碎的纳米天线，并且在空间上被限制在nm体积内。利用宽带合成脉冲，我们将表征传感器的灵敏度、动态范围和光谱响应。后者将使用纳米结构几何来定制。成像EOS用于记录单个纳米天线收集的场的时空演变。然后，我们将把非相干光应用到纳米传感器上，并以单次拍摄的方式对这种光进行灵敏采样。我们的目标是展示最先进的电光纳米传感器的灵敏度。在第二个方向上，我们将合成场应用于二维材料。利用SREOS，我们将对与二维材料发生极端非线性相互作用的光进行采样，从而深入了解非线性极化响应、光-物质能量交换和电子带结构。随后的阿秒相关电子动力学将被映射到弱中红外探测脉冲上，并通过SREOS在远场测量。特别注意将致力于理解性质的作用，如OAM在塑造阿秒电子动力学。我们的目标是揭示二维材料中量子电子过程的新基本见解，为PHz量子电子器件的应用奠定基础。该项目将在超快激光发展、纳米制造、结构光和量子物质方面培养3名博士、2名硕士和5名本科学生。工程和物理的联合重点将为学生在加拿大技术行业或学术界的职业生涯做好准备。