Revolution in the laboratory: Göttingen researchers prove Floquet effects in graphene!

Revolution in the laboratory: Göttingen researchers prove Floquet effects in graphene!

Researchers of the University of Göttingen have recently made significant advances in quantum materials research. They documented for the first time the appearance of Floquet states in graphene, an extremely conductive and stable material that is only one atomic layer thick. This discovery could have far-reaching implications for future technologies in electronics, computing and sensing.

The results were published in the renowned specialist journal Nature Physics published. Femtosecond pulse microscopy was used to examine the Floquet states in graphene in detail. Using light pulses, Floquet engineering can specifically change material properties, enabling the development of new applications in areas such as flexible displays, highly sensitive sensors and high-performance batteries.

Technological applications and potential

Graphene possesses outstanding properties that make it a valuable material for various cutting-edge applications. In addition to the technologies already mentioned, the research shows that the targeted manipulation of quantum materials is possible using the Floquet effects demonstrated in experiments. These enable new equilibria in quantum materials through time-dependent shaking, as described in the previous theoretical study by Oka and Aoki.

The team, led by Marco Merboldt and David Schmitt, was able to demonstrate that the coherent refraction of time-reversal symmetry in graphene can be realized using circularly polarized light. This discovery could serve as the basis for the realization of the Haldane model, a central model in solid state physics.

Collaboration and expressions of gratitude

The research was supported by the Göttingen Collaborative Research Center SFB 1073, funded by the German Research Foundation. The team also includes scientists from several renowned institutions, including the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland and the University of Bremen. The extensive international collaboration highlights the importance of this research within the global scientific community.

The full list of co-authors and institutions can be found in the publication entitled “ Observation of Floquet states in graphene “This extraordinary work could revolutionize the understanding and use of quantum materials in the coming years.