Imaging and spectroscopy of ultrafast phase transitions

Dr. Allan Johnson

Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO)

Tuesday, 11 October 2022 12:00

Light induced phase transitions represent a novel way to control materials and realize new phases of matter. Numerous studies have suggested that the light induced dynamics in quantum materials are not

homogeneous, but exhibit a wide range of complex behaviours at the nanoscale. In this talk I will outline recent work performing some of the first nanoscale imaging of light-induced phase transitions with femtosecond temporal resolution using coherent imaging at an X-ray free

electron laser. Furthermore, I will discuss new routes to controlling light-induced phase transitions by all-optical seeding of point defects in single crystalline VO2.