Optical Engineering of Quantum Materials: Floquet Theory and Beyond

Abstract

In this thesis, the relationship between Floquet theory and a non-equilibrium quantum dynamics simulation in the particular case of graphene irradiated with a laser is studied. First, Floquet theory is applied to identify the quasienergy spectrum of the laser-material system. Next, the electron dynamics of the system are studied in real-time using a non-equilibrium quantum dynamics simulation. Then, the results of both approaches are compared and used to understand the behaviour of electrons in the system. Finally, by using effective models, an analytical expression relating the size of the Floquet dynamical gap with the rate of absorption and emission of photons given by the results of the quantum dynamics simulation is obtained.