Projects / Programmes
Nonequilibrium Quantum System Dynamics
January 1, 2022
- December 31, 2027
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.02.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.03 |
Natural Sciences |
Physical sciences |
quantum materials, quantum relaxation processes, quantum phase transitions, domain ordering, magnetic ordering, nonequilibrium phenomena, time-resolved spectroscopy, tunneling microscopy.
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
April 24, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
517 |
12,024 |
9,752 |
18.86 |
| Scopus |
514 |
12,328 |
10,048 |
19.55 |
Researchers (20)
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0106 |
Jožef Stefan Institute |
Ljubljana |
5051606000 |
90,724 |
Abstract
Nonequilibrium quantum system dynamics (NQSD) focuses on investigations of diverse forms of matter under nonequilibrium conditions in timescales ranging from attoseconds to hours, on length-scales ranging from microscopic and mesoscopic to macroscopic. Mesoscopic quantum phenomena occuring in the aftermath of phase transitions are of particular experimental and theoretical interest. Quantum materials exhibiting diverse charge and spin orders in 1D and 2D are a fertile controllable sandbox for fundamental physics, discovery of new phenomena and development of promising applications in the form of quantum devices. New experimental approaches range from ultrafast time-resolved tabletop experiments and time-resolved microscopy to large international facilites, and ultrafast devices.
Significance for science
The research of the program group covers various fields from fundamental research of basic excitations in quantum materials, nonequilibrium quantum matter, self-organized adaptive functionality in complex systems and various nanomaterials. Experimental activities are closely linked to theoretical research at various levels and supported by the synthesis of a wide variety of materials. Our research into intra-imbalance transitions and new hidden arrangements is widely known worldwide and bears the brand of the program group and the Jožef Stefan Institute. Smart materials and quantum technologies are at the forefront of materials science research both in Europe and beyond. A detailed understanding of the properties of materials is important both from the point of view of basic science and all the applications that will emerge from these findings. The research achievements of the program team are diverse and include important original scientific discoveries in various fields and internationally competitive results. Judging by the history of publications (including numerous articles in Science, Nature journals, PRL and the like), and the success in establishing new research areas with the help of state-of-the-art equipment from EU funds and other prestigious sources (ERC project, Marie-Curie and other projects), the activities of the group members are highly valued both in Slovenia and in the world. The group found a successful recipe for pursuing excellent science based on a set of excellent students and a small number of well-coordinated experienced teams. The focus of the program group is superconducting electronics and quantum technologies would represent the next major advancement in computer technology. Currently, research in these areas is hampered by the lack of a suitable storage device that would be energy efficient, ultrafast, durable, and capable of operating at cryogenic temperatures. One of the group's successes at the global level is the study and presentation of a new type of memory device that would meet these needs and is based on changing the switching resistance between different states of the electronic configuration in the 1T-TaS2 metal dihalcogenide. Important achievements are also expected in the field of metastable self-organized electronic states in quantum materials. These insights are fundamental as they can show new emerging dynamic properties that are useful for new generations of sensors and memory elements. The state-of-the-art experimental methods we use are very diverse, from femtosecond laser spectroscopy in the range of THz to XUV, and ultrafast electrical measurements combined with various optical techniques, including synthetic chemistry and thin layer growth by methods such as MBE, ALD and EBE and femtosecond tunneling microscope. The experimental work is supported by a theory with various approaches, from analytical methods to modeling with Monte-Carlo simulations and quantum relaxation using a D-wave quantum computer, which proved to be a very useful tool for modeling nonequilibrium phenomena this year. A few spin-out applied research projects have gained more prominence, most recently ultrafast, low-energy cryomemory, based on our previous studies of ultrafast electronic transitions.
Significance for the country
Fundamental knowledge in materials science and quantum materials in particular is essential for new materials, technologies and processes in different applications: in computing and information technology, for sensors, for memory components, for electronic components in devices, for more efficient devices with better energy efficiency, for devices derived from quantum phenomena, etc. In its work, the program group intertwines various research disciplines (quantum physics, optics, electrical engineering, computer science) and industrial activities (measurement and testing, control systems, laser technology, communications, computer hardware and software). Research in the field of so-called smart materials and quantum phenomena for communications and computing are a current research and technology global mega-trend that heralds a new technological revolution. Therefore, the findings of the program group are expected to generate very broad economic, strategic, scientific, technological and social benefits. The social and economic impacts of this research are numerous (secure communication and cyber security, national security and defense, financial security, optimization of transport routes and logistics, solving climate problems, finding new drugs, optimizing and developing new materials, processing large amounts of data, etc.). The participation of program group members in major international projects, initiatives and meetings contributes to the reputation of Slovenian science and contributes to Slovenia's competitiveness. The research program introduces many new interdisciplinary technologies and new and original research areas in Slovenia, especially time-resolved spectroscopy, nanoelectronics and nanolithography. Students trained within the program group have found employment in Slovenian industry as highly qualified researchers, especially in companies with high added value (eg LPKF, Helios, BSH Bosh und Siemens Hausgeräte, Xpand, Litostroj Power) or abroad (e.g. IEE Luxemburg, Ilmenau University, Germany, University of Mainz, Uni. University of Nijmegen, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, EPFL, Switzerland, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland, UC San Diego, USA). The education of young researchers who continue their careers in industry is important for joint research and development projects in the field of high value-added products and the dissemination of acquired knowledge to other fields. The research group has one of the world's leading roles in its research field and collaborates with groups from leading universities and institutes, such as e.g. UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Stanford University, Tokyo University, Univ. Paris Sud (Orsay), Max Planck Dresden, MPI Hamburg, Univ. Gottingen and MIT, University of Trieste, Elettra, SLAC, PSI, XFEL, SwissFEL and SLS. Publications of research in international journals and at scientific meetings enable members of the program group to participate in proposing and conducting top research in various fields of science, thus raising Slovenia's reputation in the world.
