Terahertz (THz) science is rapidly advancing due to its unique ability to probe, excite, and control fundamental degrees of freedom in matter. Unlike conventional thermal excitation mechanisms that rely on high-energy inputs, THz radiation—resonant with low-energy excitations and quasiparticles—provides a non-thermal pathway to selectively access structural, electronic, or spin-excited states. Remarkably, driving
materials out of equilibrium with intense THz fields can reveal hidden phases of matter that remain inaccessible under static conditions. In this class, we will explore how intense electromagnetic pulses at THz frequencies can be employed to drive, control, and observe material properties on ultrafast timescales.
