Non-equilibrium functionalisation of correlated materials

Functionalziation of material properties is central for achieving the technological advances in sustainability needed to mitigate the climate challenge. The advent of femto second laser sources has opened a new possibility for controlling the properties of quantum materials by out-of-equilibrium driving, enabling non-equilibrium control of magnetism and superconductivity. Strongly correlated materials are particularly interesting, since competing degrees of freedom generates functional emergent phenomena, like giant magneto-resistance and high- temperature superconductivity. The ability to tune these properties with light would open a range of new disruptive technological applications.

In this project we will study the non-equilibrium dynamics in driven strongly correlated materials using real-time quantum many-body simulations. We will focus on two microscopic mechanisms; strong spin-orbit coupling in relativistic Mott insulators and anomalous charge fluctuations induced by strong screening of the Coulomb interaction. Using ab initio low energy models and real-time dynamical mean-field theory we will investigate how optical pumping can be used to enhance and induce the collective charge order and excitonic magnetism driven by these mechanisms. The results will guide ongoing pump-probe experiments (like those at ESS and MAXIV) on the rare earth nickelates, ferrites, and ruthenates, and develop new understanding of how light can be used to functionalize correlated materials.