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Ultrafast Spectroscopy Lab
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The lab uses extremely short light pulses to observe and control electrons in materials.
AboutAbout the lab
Observing and controlling electron motion with extremely short light pulses
The Ultrafast Spectroscopy Lab uses extremely short light pulses to study and control the behavior of electrons in materials.
Its targets are "strongly correlated electron" materials, in which quantum many-body effects play a central role, such as high-temperature superconductors, quantum spin liquids, and strongly correlated Dirac semimetals.
Using infrared light pulses about 5 femtoseconds long and interferometers with attosecond precision, the lab measures how the interactions among charge, orbital, and spin change over time.
Its goal is to operate next-generation optical functions at petahertz speeds (one quadrillion times per second).
Key terms
- Strongly correlated electrons
- A state in which strong interactions between electrons give rise to distinctive properties. High-temperature superconductors are an example.
- Femtosecond
- One quadrillionth of a second. A unit of time used to express how short a light pulse is.
- Light-induced phase transition
- A phenomenon in which shining light on a material causes a macroscopic change in its electronic or magnetic properties.
NewsLab news
A master's student received the Encouragement Award of the Symposium on Optical Properties of Solids at its 36th meeting
A paper by former Assistant Professor Ito was featured in a press release as a result on giant polarization in quantum materials
A master's student received the Encouragement Award of the Symposium on Optical Properties of Solids at its 35th meeting
A paper by Assistant Professor Amano was featured in a press release on the discovery of a structural change, lasting a few trillionths of a second, induced by light
A master's student received the Encouragement Award of the Symposium on Optical Properties of Solids at its 34th meeting
ResearchResearch themes
Modern optical science is expanding beyond studying the properties of materials toward creating and controlling new phases of matter with light. Targeting strongly correlated electron materials, the lab makes measurements with unprecedented time resolution using extremely short light pulses, aiming for petahertz operation of next-generation optical functions.
*Illustrative imageLight-Induced Phase Transitions in Strongly Correlated Materials
The lab searches for light-induced phase transitions in materials expected to offer ultrafast optical functions, such as organic compounds, cuprate superconductors, quantum spin liquids, iridium-based semimetals, and electronic ferroelectrics.
*Illustrative imageGeneration of Ultrashort Light Pulses and Extreme Spectroscopy
The lab develops extreme light pulses of about 5 femtoseconds, which last less than one cycle of the light's electric-field oscillation. With attosecond time precision, it looks into the world in which the intense electric field of light drives electrons in solids nonlinearly.
*Illustrative imageProbing and Controlling Electronic States with Terahertz Light
Using terahertz pump-probe spectroscopy and terahertz emission imaging, the lab reveals electronic states and domain structures. It also manipulates quantum many-body materials with low-energy, high-intensity terahertz light.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Ultrafast Spectroscopy Lab consist of faculty and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2025
- ProfessorShinichiro Iwai
- Associate ProfessorYohei Kawakami
- Assistant ProfessorTatsuya Amano
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “JILA; Radiation Instrument ( )” National Institute of Standards and Technology / Public domain (cropped)
- Light-Induced Phase Transitions in Strongly Correlated Materials: “Levitation of a magnet on a superconductor” Julien Bobroff (user:Jubobroff), Frederic Bouquet (user:Fbouquet), Jeffrey Quilliam, LPS, Orsay, France / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Generation of Ultrashort Light Pulses and Extreme Spectroscopy: “Femtosecond Laser and Pulse Compressor - Optics Lab - INRIM” Giorgio Brida from Torino, Italy / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Probing and Controlling Electronic States with Terahertz Light: “NNSA-NSO-1268” National Nuclear Security Administration / Nevada Site Office / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Molecular Materials Physics Lab): “Stable Levitation of a magnet on a superconductor” Julien Bobroff (user:Jubobroff), Frederic Bouquet (user:Fbouquet), LPS, Orsay, France / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (High Magnetic Field Condensed Matter Physics Lab): “Vibrator ignition coil” 作者不詳 / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Quantum Spin and Orbital Physics Lab): “JEOL Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) ( )” Simon Fraser University - Communications & Marketing / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Spin Quantum Properties Lab): “Interior of the Plum Brook Reactor Facility (GRC-1961-C-55851)” NASA Glenn Research Center / Public domain (cropped)
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