Attosecond time-and angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (attopes)
Topological materials (TM) show fascinating properties such as small bulk bandgaps and robust surface states with Dirac dispersion, Floquet-Bloch states and spin-momentum locking. Their topological nature means these states are resistant to change, and thus stable to temperature fluctuations and physical distortion, features that could make them useful in quantum computers and ultrafast electronic devices. In order to reap the full benefits of TM and tailor their properties, understanding of the phenomena related to electron-electron, electron-spin and electron-phonon interactions, occurring on a femto- to attosecond timescale, is required. Ultrafast Time- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy (tr-ARPES) is the expertise of the experienced researcher (ER) and is the technique that will be implemented in this work. It will be employed for investigating novel industry-grade TM that are developed in parallel research activities at the host IMEC in Leuven, Belgium. State-of-the-art attosecond high harmonic generation laser light coupled with a powerful imaging electron spectrometer will be employed in ultrafast pump–probe experiments to disentangle all coupled interactions between the charge, spin, lattice and electronic degrees of freedom of novel TM. The researcher’s academic background in ultrafast laser spectroscopy perfectly complements research conducted at the host IMEC, one of largest independent R&D centers worldwide in the field of nanoelectronics delivering industry-relevant technology solutions by leveraging its global industrial partner network. AttoPES will take attosecond science to the next level and contribute to accelerate the development of new TM complement for nanoelectronics. It will benefit from the extensive expertise available in IMEC’s groups and enable the ER to diversify his competences, creativity and innovation potential to strengthen his profile as a time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy top-class researcher