2024/08/06 by Lior Faeyrman, Eduardo B. Molinero, Faeyrman, Lior +26
Chemistry · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Physical and Chemical Molecular Interactions #FOS: Physical sciences #Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) #Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) #Optics (physics.optics) #Quantum Physics (quant-ph) #Surface Chemistry and Catalysis #Topological Materials and Phenomena
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2408.03105
openalex publication_date 2024/08/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
In quantum mechanics, a quantum wavepacket may acquire a geometrical phase as it evolves along a cyclic trajectory in parameter space. In condensed matter systems, the Berry phase plays a crucial role in fundamental phenomena such as the Hall effect, orbital magnetism, and polarization. Resolving the quantum nature of these processes commonly requires sensitive quantum techniques, as tunneling, being the dominant mechanism in STM microscopy and tunneling transport devices. In this study, we integrate these two phenomena - geometrical phases and tunneling - and observe a complex-valued Berry phase via strong field light matter interactions in condensed matter systems. By manipulating the tunneling barrier, with attoseconds precision, we measure the imaginary Berry phase accumulated as the electron tunnels during a fraction of the optical cycle. Our work opens new theoretical and experimental directions in geometrical phases physics and their realization in condensed matter systems, expanding solid state strong field light metrology to study topological quantum phenomena.