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I. Institute of Theoretical Physics

I. Institute of
Theoretical Physics

Photo: UHH/Ohme

I. Institute of Theor. Physics

Dynamics of Correlated Quantum Matter

Our group investigates the collective behavior of interacting quantum systems, with a particular focus on their dynamics out of equilibrium. We develop theoretical and computational methods to understand, probe, and control quantum materials using ultrafast light pulses, electromagnetic cavities, and tailored external fields.

Our research connects fundamental many-body theory with emerging experimental techniques, aiming to uncover new quantum phenomena and develop strategies for controlling matter on microscopic timescales.

Content

Group

Meet the people behind our research! We welcome motivated students and researchers interested in joining us. BSc and MSc thesis projects are available, and inquiries about PhD and postdoctoral opportunities are always welcome. Feel free to contact the group leader to discuss possible topics and positions.

The Team

Research

We investigate how novel states of matter emerge, how they can be probed and engineered, and how new theoretical and computational approaches can help us understand them. Explore the different facets of our research below.

Relaxation pathways in photo-doped Mott systems

Photo: Martin Eckstein / RMP 97, 035001 (2025)

Nonequilibrium Quantum Matter

How does quantum matter evolve under ultrafast excitation or strong electrical currents? What gives rise to hidden orders, metastable phases, or dynamically stabilized states? We develop many-body theories to unravel relaxation pathways and explore the control of quantum matter from fast electronic to slow collective motion.

tr arpes chalkboard

Photo: Martin Eckstein

Theory of time-resolved ultra-fast Spectroscopy

How can ARPES track transient band structures or XFEL probes reveal nonthermal electronic states? We develop computational tools to predict spectroscopic signals and also investigate new probes of nonequilibrium quantum matter, from X-ray–optical mixing to reveal hidden orders to multidimensional ARPES for higher-order correlations.

cavity blackboard

Photo: Martin Eckstein

Cavity Quantum Materials

Can confined electromagnetic fields modify effective interactions and collective phenomena in quantum materials? Can engineered cavity environments stabilize novel states or control non-equilibrium phase transitions by reshaping dissipation? We extend quantum embedding methods, including DMFT extensions to investigate these questions.

chalkboard

Photo: Martin Eckstein

Quantum Embedding methods

Quantum embedding methods make strongly correlated many-body systems computationally accessible. We develop and apply dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT) and nonequilibrium Green's function techniques, including our NESSi software, to simulate the dynamics of interacting quantum materials.

chalkboard methods

Photo: Martin Eckstein

Quantum Many-Body Algorithms

Simulating nonequilibrium quantum matter is challenging due to entanglement growth, the sign problem, and multiple timescales. To access more complex systems and longer timescales, we explore new computational approaches, combining tensor networks with nonequilibrium Green's functions and machine learning with dynamical mean-field theory.

Publications

Explore our research in more detail → View all publications

Contact

Administrative Office

Administrative Office
Anna Zharinova
I. Institut für Theoretische Physik
Notkestraße 9-11, Room 4115
22607 Hamburg

Kontakt

Group leader
Prof. Dr. Martin Eckstein
I. Institut für Theoretische Physik
Notkestraße 9-11, Room 3087
22607 Hamburg