Abstract: Inhomogeneities are common in quantum materials and can radically impact their fundamental as well as functional properties. In this talk, I will discuss femtosecond resolved nanoscale snapshots of an insulator to metal phase transition in a Vanadium Dioxide thin film. Inhomogeneous development of metallicity is observed at nanometer length scales and picosecond timescales. Movies of the phase transition are found to correlate with heterogeneous features observed in the steady state including grain boundaries and twin domains. Following homogeneous photoexcitation, we identify that the energetic cost to produce a local metallic state varies in real space at the nano scale. Last, I will discuss prospects and opportunities for time-resolved near-field optics in a variety of inhomogeneous quantum materials.
*You will need to bring your cell phone, so you can sign in using the QR code outside of ATL 2400. You will need to submit your first and last name and email on the form by 11:15am to be able to get lunch after the seminar. Lunch is first come, first served.*