Speaker
Description
This project explores the process of light-induced structural symmetry breaking in polar semiconductors and insulators. When photoinduced electrons and holes interact with the lattice through electron-phonon interaction (EPI), they can lead to the formation of symmetry breaking structural distortions. The goal of this project is to investigate the ultrafast dynamics of electrons and phonons in presence of EPI and light induced structural changes. Our study will begin by considering the polar material, lithium fluoride (LiF). Subsequently, we will extend our investigation to more complex systems, including halide perovskites. This work aims to move the first steps towards the predictive computational modelling of light-induced symmetry breaking within the framework of ab initio calculations.