Matteo Savoini: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2021

Name Dr. Matteo Savoini
Address
Institut für Quantenelektronik
ETH Zürich, HPT D 18
Auguste-Piccard-Hof 1
8093 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 633 21 56
E-mailsavoinim@ethz.ch
DepartmentPhysics
RelationshipLecturer

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
402-0528-12LUltrafast Methods in Solid State Physics6 credits2V + 1US. Johnson, M. Savoini
AbstractIn condensed matter physics, “ultrafast” refers to dynamics on the picosecond and femtosecond time scales, the time scales where atoms vibrate and electronic spins flip. Measuring real-time dynamics on these time scales is key to understanding materials in nonequilibrium states. This course offers an overview and understanding of the methods used to accomplish this in modern research laboratories.
ObjectiveThe goal of the course is to enable students to identify and evaluate experimental methods to manipulate and measure the electronic, magnetic and structural properties of solids on the fastest possible time scales. This offers new fundamental insights on the couplings that bind solid-state systems together. It also opens the door to new technological applications in data storage and processing involving metastable states that can be reached only by driving systems far from equilibrium. This course offers an overview of ultrafast methods as applied to condensed matter physics. Students will learn which methods are appropriate for studying relevant scientific questions, and will be able to describe their relative advantages and limitations.
ContentThe topical course outline is as follows:

Chapter 1: Introduction

- Important time scales for dynamics in solids and their applications
- Time-domain versus frequency-domain experiments
- The pump-probe technique: general advantages and limits

Chapter 2: Overview of ultrafast processes in solids

- Carrier dynamics in response to ultrafast laser interactions
- Dynamics of the lattice: coherent vs. incoherent phonons
- Ultrafast magnetic phenomena

Chapter 3: Ultrafast optical-frequency methods

- Ultrafast laser sources (oscillators and amplifiers)
- Generating broadband pulses
- Second and third order harmonic generation
- Optical parametric amplification
- Fluorescence spectroscopy
- Advanced optical pump-probe techniques

Chapter 4: THz- and mid-infrared frequency methods

- Low frequency interactions with solids
- Difference frequency mixing
- Optical rectification
- Time-domain spectroscopy

Chapter 5: VUV and x-ray frequency methods

- Synchrotron based sources
- Free electron lasers
- High-harmonic generation
- X-ray diffraction
- Time-resolved X-ray microscopy & coherent imaging
- Time-resolved core-level spectroscopies

Chapter 6: Time-resolved electron methods

- Ultrafast electron diffraction
- Time-resolved electron microscopy
Lecture notesWill be distributed via moodle.
LiteratureWill be distributed via moodle.
Prerequisites / NoticeAlthough the course "Ultrafast Processes in Solids" (402-0526-00L) is useful as a companion to this course, it is not a prerequisite.