Physics Main Calendar

Abstract: In a quantum material, the time-periodic electric field of an optical drive can manipulate the spectrum and symmetry of electronic states. This technique—known as Floquet engineering—can create topological properties inaccessible at thermal equilibrium. However, to date, its experimental realization has focussed on electronic band hybridization induced by externally applied transient pulses of light. Such light-induced phases exist for less than one picosecond (1E-12 s), and are largely restricted to semiconductors, insulators, and topological insulators. In this talk, we present evidence for a Floquet phase in NdSb, a multi-band antiferromagnetic metal, and discuss how magnetic order can control an intrinsic periodic drive that selectively dresses electronic states near the Gamma point.