Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Dynamics of Strongly Correlated Materials

Speaker: Kun Geng

When: February 27, 2013 (Wed), 12:00PM to 01:00PM (add to my calendar)
Location: PRB 365

This event is part of the Preliminary Oral Exam.

Examining Committee: Richard Averitt, Shyam Erramilli, Claudio Chamon, Tulika Bose

Abstract:

Strongly correlated materials have been intensively investigated for their complex but extraordinary properties with technical applications. Vanadium sesquioxide (V2O3) has two first order metal-insulator transitions at different transition temperatures, doping levels, and strain environments. Both of these phase transitions are considered as canonical Mott-transitions triggered by strong correlation between electrons. Ultrafast spectroscopy of V2O3 have generated great interests given the potential to dynamically induce phase transitions through multiple possible routes, such as ultrafast high electric fields and ultrasonic strain waves. And metal-insulator transitions of nickelates (RNiO3) are discussed in comparison to V2O3.