Controlling quantum materials at the smallest length and time scales
Ankit S Disa 
See our new article reporting optical control of magnetism in a correlated oxide, now out in Nature (open access): https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05853-8 We showed that by resonantly driving different vibrational modes, the magnetization of YTiO3 could be modified, and moreover, the effective ferromagnetic ordering temperature became three times larger. This work was a result of a collaboration … Read more
The day has finally come! Although there are still some finishing touches that need to be done, the lab renovation is nearly complete. We are ready for our first laser installation. Hopefully, everything goes well and in no time we’ll be uncovering novel properties in quantum materials using light. We’ll let you know how it … Read more
The optical tables are here! Now we just have to wait for the final touches on the lab construction and the laser installation for the science to begin!
Our very own Eleanor Richard (Applied & Engineering Physics ’25) was once again selected to receive the Undergraduate Research Award from Cornell’s Engineering Learning Initiative’s (ELI) program. Her award will provide funds for her continuing project related to building and implementing a tool for high-resolution magneto-optical spectroscopy of quantum materials. Congratulations Eleanor and thank you … Read more
The lab make-over is nearly complete! Walls have been knocked down and reconstructed, utilities installed, overhead racks are being built. Move-in date is right around the corner! If you’re as excited as we are, please contact Prof. Disa to join the team! Before: During: Now:
Eleanor Richard (Applied & Engineering Physics ’25) has been selected to receive the Engineering Learning Initiatives Undergraduate Research Award. This award will fund her research in the Disa Lab for the Fall ’22 semester on “Optimized magneto-optical detection for time-resolved magnetometry”. Congratulations Eleanor!
Our proposal “Frontiers of Phonon Transport Across Interfaces: Development of Mode-Selective Phonon Pump-Probe Spectroscopy” has been selected for seed funding as part of the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR). The Disa Lab will be working together with the groups of Cornell professors Nicole Benedek (MSE), Zhiting Tian (MAE), and Jeff Moses (AEP). The goal … Read more
Our new laboratory spaces in the basement of Clark Hall, Rooms BE07 and BE08, are now under construction! We are on schedule to start moving in this Fall. Are you interested in helping to build state-of-the-art ultrafast optical experiments to study atomically engineered quantum materials? Get in touch! Here are the before pictures for posterity: