Through the Lens of A Momentum Microscope: Viewing Light‐Induced Quantum Phenomena in Two‐Dimensional Materials

Abstract

Van der Waals (vdW) materials at their two-dimensional limit are diverse, flexible, and unique laboratories to study fundamental quantum phenomena and their future applications. Their novel properties rely on their pronounced Coulomb interactions, variety of crystal symmetries and spin-physics, and the ease of incorporation of different vdW materials to form sophisticated heterostructures. In particular, the excited state properties of many two-dimensional semiconductors and semi-metals are relevant for their technological applications, particularly those that can be induced by light. In this paper, we review the recent advances made in studying out-of-equilibrium, light-induced, phenomena in these materials using powerful, surface-sensitive, time-resolved photoemission-based techniques, with a particular emphasis on the emerging multi-dimensional photoemission spectroscopy technique of time-resolved momentum microscopy. We discuss the advances this technique has enabled in studying the nature and dynamics of occupied excited states in these materials. Then, we project for the future research directions opened by these scientific and instrumental advancements, studying the physics of two-dimensional materials and the opportunities to engineer their band-structure and band-topology by laser fields.