Engineering Quantum Matter by Light
​Xinwei Li Lab @ NUS Physics
When light-matter interaction becomes nonlinear, elegant physics comes about. We build advanced nonlinear optical measurement systems that target at ultra-sensitive detection of symmetry-breaking phase transitions, while admiring the beauty of harmonic generation, frequency conversion, and group theory along the way.
Electrons in a photonic cavity interact strongly with the cavity light field to form quasi-particles called polaritons. We engineer polariton properties by adopting various designs of hybrid light-matter interacting systems.
Quantum materials driven by light can self-organize into nontrivial electronic states that are thermally inaccessible. These so-called "metastable" phases are hidden in the equilibrium phase diagrams but can endow materials with unique and highly manipulable functionalities.
When light-matter interaction becomes nonlinear, elegant physics comes about. We build advanced nonlinear optical measurement systems that target at ultra-sensitive detection of symmetry-breaking phase transitions, while admiring the beauty of harmonic generation, frequency conversion, and group theory along the way.
Research overview
Welcome to our site! We are a team of of experimental physicists devoted to using laser-based ultrafast optical techniques to investigate emergent quantum electronic orders in solids, and actively control them for technological applications. We are particularly interested in harnessing light-matter interactions of various forms as a means to induce far-from-equilibrium phenomena that are difficult to realize by static control knobs. Driven by this prospect, our work in the past has demonstrated (1) cavity QED systems in the ultrastrong coupling regime, (2) novel exciton phases in photoexcited correlated insulators, and (3) light-induced metastable electronic phases in spin-orbit coupled Mott insulators. We invite you to further explore this site for more details.
We have open positions available for PhD students and postdoc scholars. Undergraduate research opportunities are also available. Interested applicants may contact Dr. Xinwei Li (xinweili [at] nus.edu.sg).