Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help
SYFC: Symposium Designing Quantum Materials with Light: From Floquet to Cavity Engineering
SYFC 1: Designing Quantum Materials With Light: from Floquet to Cavity Engineering
SYFC 1.5: Invited Talk
Monday, March 9, 2026, 11:45–12:15, HSZ/AUDI
Lightwave-driven electrons in a Floquet topological insulator — Daniel Lesko1, 2, Tobias Weitz1, 2, Weizhe Li1, Selina Nöcker1, 2, Celina Hüttner1, Tamara Pröbster1, Simon Wittigschlager1, Christian Heide1, 3, Ofer Neufeld4, and •Peter Hommelhoff1, 2 — 1Department Physik, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen — 2Fakultät für Physik, Ludwig-Maxilians-Universität, München — 3University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fl, USA — 4Technion, Haifa, Israel
Topological insulators enable novel quantum and electronic phenomena but are limited by material constraints. Floquet topological insulators (FTIs), created by time-periodic driving, promise tunable topological properties and petahertz operation. We demonstrate optical control of photocurrents in light-dressed graphene, where circularly polarized pulses induce an FTI state and phase-locked second-harmonic pulses drive electron dynamics. This enables measurement of all-optical anomalous Hall and valley-polarized photocurrents, revealing sub-cycle phase sensitivity and dynamical symmetry selection rules. Supported by ab-initio and analytical theory, our results establish a bridge between Floquet and topological physics, attosecond science, and valleytronics, advancing ultrafast topotronic control beyond static band engineering.
Keywords: Floquet topological insulator; Light-dressing; Graphene; Femtosecond laser; Coherent control