High-order harmonic spectroscopy of nanoscale solids (C04)

• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 398816777

Project C4 aims at the development of all-optical and non-invasive methods for the detection of local currents and the study of the electron dynamics and transport in different regimes (ohmic, hydrodynamic and ballistic) in single layer 2D materials and heterostructures. The proposed methods are based on low- (perturbative) and high- (non-perturbative) order harmonic generation and will exploit the high sensitivity of nonlinear optical processes to spatial and time-reversal symmetries. Examples are the appearance of even-order harmonics in graphene in the presence of an in-plane current, or the changes in the polarization of the emitted second harmonic from TMDs when the valley degeneracy (time-reversal symmetry) is lifted. In addition, the nonlocal – both in real space and in the energy-momentum space – character of high-order harmonic generation in solids provides a unique tool for the measurement of time-reversal symmetry and the Berry’s phase.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1375: Nonlinear Optics down to Atomic scales (NOA)
• Applicant Institution: Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
• Co-Applicant Institution: Leibniz-Institut für Photonische Technologien e.V. (IPHT)
• Project Heads: Dr. Daniil Kartashov; Professor Dr. Giancarlo Soavi, since 7/2023; Professorin Dr. Maria Wächtler, until 6/2023