Subcycle quantum dynamics
We aim to understand and control the ultrafast motion of elementary building blocks of matter and their interplay among each other and exploit this knowledge to design quantum systems with novel functionalities. As essential tools, we conceive sources of ultrashort phase-locked laser pulses as well as field-sensitive detectors for the entire infrared and terahertz window of the electromagnetic spectrum and combine them with novel concepts of ultrafast microscopes. Like an extreme slow-motion camera, this technology allows us to capture and control elementary quantum dynamics on the femto- to attosecond scale (1 fs = 10-15 s; 1 as = 10-18 s). Exciting new pathways to quantum electronics, quantum optics and quantum electrodynamics have been opened.
Our projects can roughly be divided into three groups:
