Aycan Yurtsever

We use time-resolved and advanced electron microscopy techniques as experimental tools, and several theoretical methodologies, to carry out fundamental research with the goal of addressing global societal issues and the needs of the Canadian industry. In particular, we investigate how matter behaves at the microscopic and ultrafast scales after it interacts with light. Such light-matter interactions are the building blocks of several technologically relevant phenomena that are critical to the sectors of renewable energy, information storage and telecommunication.

Unique Facility

Ensuing an interaction with an ultrashort photon pulse, materials remain in a non-equilibrium state for a short duration (femto / pico seconds). Such non-equilibrium states can only be visualized with a microscope that is fast enough and can resolve the microscopic detail. At INRS, we operate a unique, state-of-the-art electron microscope that can produce time-resolved, real-space images (ie movies at femtosecond scale), diffraction patterns, and electron energy loss / gain spectra. These data provide us with unprecedented insights into structural, electronic, and plasmonic behavior of nanoscale materials.