The goal of the Quantum Dynamics Laboratory is to develop ab-initio theories to understand and predict the dynamics of complex quantum systems far from thermal equilibrium, and to explore how the real-time behavior of these systems can be controlled with external forces such as ultrafast laser pulses. This type of theoretical research is essential to understand the properties of novel quantum states of matter and how such states can be generated in real-world materials.
Computer simulations based on time-dependent density-functional theory and the exact factorization of multi-component wave functions are employed to investigate the electronic charge and spin dynamics, the nuclear charge and spin dynamics, the nuclear charge and spin dynamics, and as well as non-adiabatic coupling between any of these degrees of freedom.