Light-Field Control of Electrons in Matter

Ignacio Franc
University of Rochester

Abstract

Ultrashort light pulses play a critical role in our quest to observe and exploit ever-faster physical phenomena. In particular, few-cycle lasers with frequencies in the visible range enable the visualization and control of chemical and physical processes occurring on femto to attosecond timescales. In this talk, I will discuss how the interaction of these intense and ultrafast light fields with matter can be used to guide electrons in matter and to modify the electronic properties of materials on demand. Specifically, I will discuss how it is now possible to use few cycle pulses to generate ultrafast laser-induced currents and design logical circuits elements that operate 106 times faster than present-day capabilities. Further, I will introduce a method that now enables modeling and interpreting the effective response properties of laser-dressed materials. Remarkably, in these highly non-equilibrium systems the Floquet states emerge as the natural states to characterize their physical properties. Using it, we isolate purely-optical tell-tale signatures of the emergence of Floquet states that can be used to investigate their formation and survival under experimentally relevant conditions.

Timbits, coffee, tea will be served in STI A before the colloquium.