A – Designing dynamical emergence in quantum matter

Research in Area A focuses on quantum systems that can be exceptionally well controlled: quantum gases and solids. Here, we aim to understand and control novel functionalities emerging in non-equilibrium or in exquisitely tailored equilibrium settings, functionalities that, so far, do not exist under ambient conditions.

In particular, the research groups will address the following questions:

• How can we increase the critical temperature of non-equilibrium superconductors using optical or electronic driving?
• How can we create, understand and control new classes of interacting systems with topology?
• How can we assemble many-body systems, atom by atom, to achieve particularly robust magnetic or superconducting many-body states?
• What can we gain when harnessing non-classical light to prepare and control collective properties of matter?

A common aspect of all research projects in Area A is that these questions are addressed in close collaboration between experiments in macroscopic solids and model-like systems, such as quantum gas simulators and arrays of magnetic atoms on surfaces. Building on this combination, we will address and understand fundamental quantum phenomena that will unveil guiding principles needed by the other areas. Here we can give special attention to the electronic degrees of freedom, since the crystalline order suppresses nuclear rearrangements.

Full quantum control over individual atoms will be achieved using scanning tunneling or quantum gas microscopy, whereas the full quantum nature of light will be harnessed in experiments with non-classical light and strong light-matter coupling.

Area A exemplifies the high degree of control that we ultimately want to achieve over the more complex building blocks studied in Areas B and C.

Participating research groups:

For more information about each scientist, please follow the individual links on our "Who we are" page.

• Prof. R. Blick
• Prof. A. Cavalleri
• Prof. M. Drescher
• Prof. M. Eckstein
• Prof. A. Hemmerich
• Prof. D. Jaksch
• Prof. A. Lichtenstein
• Prof. L. Mathey
• Dr. J. McIver
• Dr. G. Meier
• Prof. J. W. Moll
• Prof. H. Moritz
• Dr. T. Posske
• Prof. M. Potthoff
• Prof. R. Riedinger
• Prof. R. Röhlsberger
• Dr. G. Salomon
• Prof. P. Schauss
• Dr. F. Schlawin
• Prof. P. Schmelcher
• Prof. R. Schnabel
• Prof. K. Sengstock
• Dr. J. Simonet
• Prof. M. Thorwart
• Prof. T. Wehling
• Dr. P. Wessels-Staarmann
• Prof. R. Wiesendanger

International partner:

• Prof. A. Georges, Collège de France