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In this project, we explore a new and unconventional approach to reaction dynamics based on quantum trajectories. Unlike their classical counterparts, quantum trajectories are able to accurately capture quantum dynamic effects, in particular the tunneling effect. In one-dimensional cases, the quantu

The main ambition is to provide models for the equivalent flow dynamics based on physical processes at the particle scale, including the slope influence. A major difference between compositional currents and PLGCs is the existence of typical length and time scales associated with the particles dynam

The objective of the CECoSA project is to use comb spectroscopy of optical frequencies in the mid-infrared combined with uniform supersonic flows to achieve the time-resolved diagnosis of low temperature reactions involving radicals. Radicals are essential in astrochemistry because they are the cor

The magnetic moments of spin ice materials map onto elements of an electromagnetic field making them almost perfect generators of emergent electromagnetism which “fragments” into distinct divergence full and divergence free parts via a Helmholtz decomposition. The divergence full part describes a fl

This joint project aims to investigate the electronic states of selected topological quantum solids via a systematic tuning of the Fermi energy. Topological quantum materials host Dirac points in the electronic band structure. The electronic properties are sensitively dependent on the precise locati

Ultrafast laser structuring is key to a new generation of material processing tools. This pertains to glass, with 3D processing capabilities into the nanoscale. Optimizable in yield and scale, smart processing concepts emerged using spatiotemporal beam design tuned to material response. This require

Water is the most studied liquid, as it is involved in countless processes. However, water presents many anomalies and some of its properties remain to be measured, especially under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. To mend this gap, we will study very different conditions to answer tw

In search for novel quantum states and functionalities, the number of theoretical and experimental studies of superconducting hybrids involving topological insulators (TIs) is rapidly growing. A general hope is to induce superconducting correlations from a superconductor (S) into TI, while preservin

The understanding of plasma sheath, a charged layer that arises in the vicinity of any material surface immersed in plasmas, is crucial in order to control plasma-surface interactions. If the sheath mechanisms are well known in unmagnetized plasmas, even in Radio Frequency (RF) environments, a unive

Collective excitations in topological matter represent a novel field of research focusing on joint effects of non-trivial topology of energy bands and electron-electron interactions. To date, there is little experimental work dealing with Dirac plasmons at the surface of topological insulators, and

The spectrum of the H2+ ion, although being the simplest molecular species, consisting of two protons and a single electron, has so far been little studied experimentally. The challenge of the HYMPE project is to exploit the strong potential of this system for fundamental metrology. The objective is

This project is devoted to explore novel high-entropy oxides (HEOx) which display exotic electronic and magnetic properties. HEOx constitute a new class of materials that has been discovered recently (C. M. Rost et al, Nature Communications, 2015), extending to oxides the concept of high-entropy mat

Non-coding RNAs play several fundamental roles in the cell, particularly in catalytic and regulatory processes. A fundamental question is how the sequence of an RNA molecule encodes its structure, that is, the folding in a 3D conformation, and its function, for example how it interacts with other mo

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is an emergent optical material being an indirect bandgap yet with a bright luminescence in the far UV. In the last years a general picture of optical recombination mechanisms has been sketched and the importance of strong phonon-exciton coupling effects has been under

The ULTRASYNC project aims at observing, understanding and controlling ultrafast self-organisation of relativistic electron bunches in accelerator facilities. A central goal is to master the emission of giant pulses of terahertz (THz) Coherent Synchrotron Radiation (CSR) that occurs concomitantly in

The project relies on three core objectives. First, we propose to study how effective photon interactions – which may give rise to light superfluidity – in an optical beam compete with «mesoscopic« phenomena due to coherent multiple scattering of light in disorder, like Anderson localization or cohe

This project aims to explore the self-assembly properties of passive and active tip-functionalized filamentous virus rods (fd) by combining experimental techniques with modeling tools that allow us to study these rods both at the single particle level as well as on the macroscopic scale by exploring

In modern nanoporous materials, gas diffusivity correlates with their efficiency for gas separation and storage, or for catalysis. It also correlates with their relevance for investigations of helium superfluid phases and phase transitions with perturbing solid impurities, or confining boundaries si

Topological insulators (TI) are insulators that present conductive states at the interface that they form with conventional insulators, protected from dissipation by certain symmetries of the system. In the lead salts (PbSnSe/Te) that we are studying the symmetry involved is crystal symmetry rather

Enzyme ThyX is a bacterial alternative to canonical Thymidylate Synthase ThyA, whose role is also to produce the nucleotide associated with the letter T in DNA. This enzyme is present in many pathogenic bacteria, but is absent in humans, making it a promising target for the development of a new gene

With the recent development of wavefront shaping techniques for light waves, a large variety of coherent effects in disordered systems has been demonstrated and exploited. The goal of the MARS_light project is to push forward this evolution by providing a theory for the scattering matrix of strongly

The conversion of electromagnetic energy into kinetic energy by an electrically conducting fluid is a ubiquitous phenomenon that can be found in several natural systems as well as industrial applications. In nature, the accretion of matter around black holes and proto-stars is a typical example in

Applying a pressure in the magnitude order of 100 GPa on a material leads to structural rearrangements and chemical bonds modifications. New resulting properties and many amazing results illustrate this wealth: the xenon atomic crystal is transformed into a metal at high temperature and with a high

The objectives will be to study the spread of embolism in real systems (leaves), biomimetic systems with positive pressure and biomimetic systems functioning in the most realistic way at negative pressures. These three experimental approaches will be complemented by a modelling effort to tackle the

Research carried out in the continuity of Pickering's precursory work has recently made it possible to produce new objects which can be described as pockets of gas in the air, named: gas marble. They are made of gas surrounded by a layer of grains trapped in a thin liquid film in a gaseous environme

The electric and magnetic fields in nanostructured semiconductor materials are affected by light absorption. The absorbed photons create charge carriers which induce changes in the local internal fields. For example, in III-N heterostructures used for light emitting diodes (LEDs), the internal elect

Artificial intelligent (AI) systems are being developed at a vertiginous pace. This progress follows one of two roads: either deep neural network algorithms running in conventional supercomputers, or building dedicated microchips with conventional electronics to implement the neurons and synapses

Peristalsis enables transport of the food bolus in the digestive tract. Propagating, rythmic longitudinal and circular smooth muscle contractions underlie peristalsis movements; coupling of the muscle layers by mechanosensitive neurons of the enteric nervous system results in a rich, complex dynamic

The aim of this project is to develop the theory and software for the ab initio predictive description, without adjustable parameters, of Resonant Inelastic X-ray Spectroscopy (RIXS). RIXS is an important experimental tool to probe elementary excitations in solids. It gives vital information about t

In this project, we assembled a team of experimentalists and theoreticians with ambitious plans in the hope of shedding light on unconventional superconductivity in cuprates. In recent years, advances in the field have established that the pseudogap phase, which is widely considered the crux of th

Photoinduced phase transitions, driven by an intense optical pulse, allow ultra-fast control of material properties by light. However, heat dissipation limits the control of consistent processes. Non-linear phononics opens up fascinating perspectives for better control, by modifying the potential ac

The goals of the project TOCYDYS (Towards Optical CYcle DYnamics in Solids) are the following : - To carry out an ambitious experimental and theoretical research program, about the ultra-fast dynamics at femtosecond and attosecond time scales, in the domain of solid state physics and laser matter

The problem of localization of quantum particles by disorder is a long-standing one. It was pioneered by P. W. Anderson in 1958 who discovered that disorder can localize non-interacting degrees of freedom. However little progress was made concerning the effect of mutual interactions, like e.g. the

This theoretical project aims at proposing a new experiment with ultracold dipolar gases, based on long-lived excited levels of neodymium atoms (Nd). Since it belongs to the left part of the lanthanide row, Nd presents a dense spectrum in the range 8000-15000 cm-1 above its ground level, in striking

Studying star- and planet-forming regions in our galaxy provides important clues about the chemical history of the Solar System and the origin of life on Earth. To interpret such clues, it is crucial to identify which molecules are present which implies that they have previously been investigated in

Disorder is often present in condensed matter, in the form of impurities in solids, or in the random arrangement of glasses. It can have dramatic consequences, such as preventing transport or inducing extremely slow relaxation to equilibrium. In the quantum regime, the interplay between interference

Nanoscale flows of electrolytes in confined geometry are of primary importance for active matter, energy storage devices, harvesting of waste energy, desalinization, and actuation and signal detection in micromechanical systems. Surface properties are predominant for the flow behavior and ionic tran

Liquid foams are complex networks of packed bubbles, which are known for their complex flow properties. Depending on the mechanical solicitation, a foam can have an elastic response or flow. The rheology of foam have been the subject of various studies in the past decades, but the description of flo

The direct manipulation of femtosecond pulses with liquid-crystal-based devices has for long remained occasional. Our recent novel research activity, devoted to the temporal shaping of ultrashort pulses, has disclosed the use of liquid crystals for ultrafast applications. The results opened an appli

Thermonuclear fusion is an ideal solution to the energy crisis: a clean, safe, global, abundant and sustainable source of energy. A promising approach is to heat an ionized gas (a plasma) of hydrogen isotopes at 150 million degrees, and confine it in a donut-shaped magnetic field. After decades of p

Quantum fluctuations typically play a major role in strongly correlated materials that have more and more applications. In contrast, quantum fluctuations are usually having a small effect in Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) physics because a BEC is in essence a dilute system. However, the objectives o