The research activities at the Structure and Dynamics of Complex Systems (SDCS) laboratory are focused on the experimental study of the interplay between structural and dynamical properties of a class of materials including liquids and glasses, soft matter, ceramics and disordered photonic systems. In fact, the relevant macroscopic properties of these materials (e.g. thermodynamic properties, transport coefficients, elastic moduli etc.) do not depend only on their structure or on their dynamics but rather on their often complex interplay. These research activities aim at achieving a detailed understanding and eventually a tailored design of materials with predefined properties.
Temperature effects on the nanoscale thermoelastic response of a SiO2 membrane
We crossed two femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (EUV) pulses on a 100 nm thick amorphous membrane of SiO2, generating transient gratings (TGs) of light intensity with 84 nm spatial periodicity. The EUV TG excitation gave rise to the …
- 15/11/2024
Wave vector dependence of x-ray beam induced dynamics in sodium silicate glasses
We have probed the atomic dynamics of two sodium silicate glasses in a wide wave vector range by means of x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy. The wide angle setup has been modified to cover a 𝑄 range that …
- 15/11/2024
Water slowing down drives the occurrence of the low temperature dynamical transition in microgels
The protein dynamical transition marks an increase in atomic mobility and the onset of anharmonic motions at a critical temperature (Td), which is considered relevant for protein functionality. This phenomenon is ubiquitous, regardless of protein …
- 15/11/2024
Temperature effects on the nanoscale thermoelastic response of a SiO2 membrane
We crossed two femtosecond extreme ultraviolet (EUV) pulses on a 100 nm thick amorphous membrane of SiO2, generating transient gratings (TGs) of light intensity with 84 nm spatial periodicity. The EUV TG excitation gave rise to the …
- 27/06/2024
Disclosing the nature of the collective THz dynamics in hydrogen-bonded liquids
The behavior of liquids has always been a subject of strong interest and still presents many challenging issues. A paradigmatic example is the understanding of their atomic-scale collective dynamics. Experimentally accessible to inelastic neutron and …
- 30/01/2024