Ultrafast spectroscopy and control of correlated quantum materials

In this thesis, I describe research completed during my Ph.D. on correlated condensed matter systems using ultrafast optics. I begin with a broad overview of this field, focusing specifically on the essential physics involved in ultrafast processes and how that physics may be utilized, in the sense...

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Main Author: Fichera, Bryan T.
Other Authors: Gedik, Nuh
Format: Thesis
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2024
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/156759
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author Fichera, Bryan T.
author2 Gedik, Nuh
author_facet Gedik, Nuh
Fichera, Bryan T.
author_sort Fichera, Bryan T.
collection MIT
description In this thesis, I describe research completed during my Ph.D. on correlated condensed matter systems using ultrafast optics. I begin with a broad overview of this field, focusing specifically on the essential physics involved in ultrafast processes and how that physics may be utilized, in the sense of either spectroscopy or control, to understand correlated systems. I then give a pedagogical introduction to second harmonic generation, both in theory and in practice, before describing results from four projects I completed in my Ph.D.—(i) a technical project concerned with automating polarization rotation in second harmonic generation, (ii), a demonstration that second harmonic generation may be used to differentiate charge density wave domains with opposite planar chirality, (iii) our discovery of an ultrafast reorientation transition in the antiferromagnetic semiconductor CaMn₂Bi₂, and (iv) second harmonic generation evidence for an amplitude-mode electromagnon in CuBr₂. I conclude by reflecting on the progress achieved in correlated electron physics as a result of this work, and by giving my own perspective on the future of this field.
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spelling mit-1721.1/1567592024-09-17T03:32:06Z Ultrafast spectroscopy and control of correlated quantum materials Fichera, Bryan T. Gedik, Nuh Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics In this thesis, I describe research completed during my Ph.D. on correlated condensed matter systems using ultrafast optics. I begin with a broad overview of this field, focusing specifically on the essential physics involved in ultrafast processes and how that physics may be utilized, in the sense of either spectroscopy or control, to understand correlated systems. I then give a pedagogical introduction to second harmonic generation, both in theory and in practice, before describing results from four projects I completed in my Ph.D.—(i) a technical project concerned with automating polarization rotation in second harmonic generation, (ii), a demonstration that second harmonic generation may be used to differentiate charge density wave domains with opposite planar chirality, (iii) our discovery of an ultrafast reorientation transition in the antiferromagnetic semiconductor CaMn₂Bi₂, and (iv) second harmonic generation evidence for an amplitude-mode electromagnon in CuBr₂. I conclude by reflecting on the progress achieved in correlated electron physics as a result of this work, and by giving my own perspective on the future of this field. Ph.D. 2024-09-16T13:47:24Z 2024-09-16T13:47:24Z 2024-05 2024-08-18T14:25:35.248Z Thesis https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/156759 In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted Copyright retained by author(s) https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/ application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Fichera, Bryan T.
Ultrafast spectroscopy and control of correlated quantum materials
title Ultrafast spectroscopy and control of correlated quantum materials
title_full Ultrafast spectroscopy and control of correlated quantum materials
title_fullStr Ultrafast spectroscopy and control of correlated quantum materials
title_full_unstemmed Ultrafast spectroscopy and control of correlated quantum materials
title_short Ultrafast spectroscopy and control of correlated quantum materials
title_sort ultrafast spectroscopy and control of correlated quantum materials
url https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/156759
work_keys_str_mv AT ficherabryant ultrafastspectroscopyandcontrolofcorrelatedquantummaterials