JOŽEF STEFAN INSTITUTE
Department of Complex Matter
Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Dynamics of Quantum matter

We explore non-equilibrium many-body dynamics in quantum systems that experience symmetry-breaking, topological, or jamming transitions. These systems encompass superconductors, charge-density wave, and magnetic materials.

Experimental Soft Matter Physics

The research is conducted within the “Light and Matter” research program. The interaction of light with matter is one of the most important fields of physics and optical processes are indispensable in many branches of modern industry.

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March 1, 2024
Dr Vaskivskyi shares his passion for the optical laboratory, where laser beams and screwdrivers combine to unlock the secrets of materials on the femtosecond timescale. Read more in an interview published in the ...
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Dynamics of Quantum Matter

The research focuses on exploring non-equilibrium many-body dynamics in quantum systems that experience symmetry-breaking, topological, or jamming transitions. These systems encompass superconductors, charge-density wave, and magnetic materials found in crystalline structures, single-mono-layer setups, or heterostructures. A specific emphasis is placed on metastable systems where relaxation is hindered by unconventional mechanisms like topological protection or jamming. The experimental methods cover a wide range of timescales, spanning from attoseconds to days. These methods encompass table-top time-resolved spectroscopy with various probes, including optical, lab-on-a-chip, magnetic and non-magnetic XUV, and electron diffraction techniques. Additionally, large-scale free-electron laser facilities are utilized, which broaden the capabilities to include time-resolved elastic and inelastic x-ray scattering, TR-ARPES (Time-Resolved Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy), and imaging. 

There is also ongoing development of new techniques for studying many-body evolution within intermediate timescales, ranging from microseconds to picoseconds. These methods rely on fast scanning and laser-pulse gated tunneling microscopies. The theoretical methods include analytical techniques to simulations of many-body dynamics using both classical and quantum methods, including the use of quantum processors for simulations of quantum dynamics. 

A significant effort within the research program is devoted to applications, including ultrafast, ultra-energy-efficient memristor devices, XUV modulators and the use of nano-materials in optical devices. 

The research program is backed by in-house capabilities for crystal and thin film growth, as well as the synthesis of novel nanomaterials. These materials undergo comprehensive characterization using a variety of techniques, including electron microscopy (SEM, HRSTEM), EDS (Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy), Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy (IR), ellipsometry, SQUID magnetometry, x-ray structural analysis, and other pertinent methods. Furthermore, various transport measurements are conducted over a broad temperature range, both with and without the presence of a magnetic field.

Active research focuses

Experimental investigations of superconducting devices (qubits, resonators) and hybrid devices are focused in-depth on the materials and loss mechanisms. The use of noisy intermediate quantum computers for simulations of many-body…
Our primary research objective is to create ultra-energy-efficient and ultrafast memristors by harnessing the switching properties of the metastable metallic state of 1T-TaS2. These memristors are intended for use in…
Both from a fundamental perspective and for the development of next-generation devices, experimental and theoretical investigations into diverse many-body ordering processes in quantum materials are performed. Our research employs a…
We are developing new methods for studying the dynamics of complex magnetic materials in 3D and on ultrafast time scales. Utilizing lab-scale laser sources, we have recently built the compact…
Based on our recent discovery of extremely fast laser-triggered lattice reconfiguration in a layered charge-ordered material we are developing the first-ever ultra-efficient tunable light modulator, which works in extreme UV…
We employ a range of methods for modeling and simulating many-body quantum systems. These methods encompass analytical techniques, GL-based modeling, classical simulations utilizing Monte Carlo techniques, as well as simulations…
Top-grade experimental research is possible only with top-grade samples. We are proud to have a team of experts who are dedicated to the synthesis of various materials with precision and…

Recent articles

A high-efficiency programmable modulator for extreme ultraviolet light with nanometre feature size based on an electronic phase transition
Igor Vaskivskyi, Anze Mraz, Rok Venturini, Gregor Jecl, Yevhenii Vaskivskyi, Riccardo Mincigrucci, Laura Foglia, Dario De Angelis, Jacopo-Stefano Pelli-Cresi, Ettore Paltanin, Danny Fainozzi, Filippo Bencivenga, Claudio Masciovecchio & Dragan Mihailovic

Nature Photonics (2024), DOI: 10.1038/s41566-024-01389-z, COBISS.SI-ID: 186100483

Manipulation of fractionalized charge in the metastable topologically entangled state of a doped Wigner crystal
Anže Mraz, Michele Diego, Andrej Kranjec, Jaka Vodeb, Peter Karpov, Yaroslav Gerasimenko, Jan Ravnik, Yevhenii Vaskivskyi, Rok Venturini, Viktor V. Kabanov, Benjamin Lipovšek, Marko Topič, Igor Vaskivskyi, Dragan Mihailović

Nature communications, vol. 14, article no. 8214 (2023), DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43800-3, COBISS.SI-ID: 179193091

Unconventional photoinduced charge density wave dynamics in 2H-NbSe[sub]2
Rok Venturini, Ankita Sarkar, Petra Šutar, Zvonko Jagličić, Igor Vaskivskyi, Evgeny A. Goreshnik, Dragan Mihailović, Tomaž Mertelj

Physical review. B., vol. 108, iss. 23, [article no.] 235160 (2023), DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.108.235160, COBISS.SI-ID: 178631939

Coherent light control of a metastable hidden state
Julian Maklar, Jit Sarkar, Yaroslav Gerasimenko, Dragan Mihailović, Laurenz Rettig

Science advances, vol. 9, iss. 47, [article no.] eadi466 (2023), DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi4661, COBISS.SI-ID: 174196995

Ongoing projects

ARIS
P1-0040 | 1.1.2022 – 30.12.2027
Dragan D. Mihailović
EU
INTERFAST | 1.5.2021 – 31.10.2024
Department of Complex matter is project partner. Head of the participating research group: Tomaž Mertelj
ARIS
N1-0295 | 1.2.2023 - 31.1.2026
Dragan D. Mihailović
ARIS
J7-50094 | 1.10.2023 - 30.9.2026
Department of Complex matter is project partner. Head of the participating research group: Aleš Mrzel
ARIS
N1-0290 | 1.1.2023 - 31.12.2026
Dragan D. Mihailović
ARIS
J7-3146 | 1.10.2021 – 30.9.2024
Dragan D. Mihailović

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