Excited States and Nonequilibrium Phenomena in Condensed Matter
Understanding excited states and nonequilibrium phenomena is central to modern condensed matter physics and materials science. Advances in ultrafast spectroscopy, quantum materials, and first-principles computational methods have made it possible to probe and predict electronic, spin, lattice, excitonic, and other quasiparticle dynamics on unprecedented temporal and spatial scales. These developments are opening new opportunities to uncover emergent physical phenomena and to design materials with tailored functionalities for energy conversion, optoelectronics, spintronics, and quantum technologies.
This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the theoretical, computational, and methodological understanding of excited-state and nonequilibrium processes in condensed matter systems. We particularly welcome contributions that develop or apply first-principles and atomistic simulation methods to investigate the dynamics of quasiparticles and coupled degrees of freedom beyond equilibrium.
Topics covered include, but are not limited to:
- Electronic Excited States and Nonequilibrium Carrier Dynamics
- Excitons, Trions, Polarons, and Other Quasiparticles
- Electron–Phonon, Electron–Electron, and Spin-Related Dynamics
- Light–Matter Interactions and Ultrafast Optical Phenomena
- Nonequilibrium Spin and Valley Dynamics
- Time-Dependent First-Principles Methods, Including Real-Time TDDFT, GW, Bethe–Salpeter Equation, and Quantum Dynamics Approaches
- Machine Learning and Data-Driven Approaches for Excited-State Simulations
- Nonequilibrium Transport and Energy Transfer
- Photoinduced Phase Transitions and Transient States of Matter
- Computational Studies of Excited-State Phenomena in Semiconductors, Quantum Materials, Low-Dimensional Materials, Magnetic Materials, and Energy-Related Materials
Guest Editors
Zhenglu Li, University of Southern California
Sheng Meng, Institute of Physics, CAS
Jin Zhao, University of Science & Technology of China