{"681453":{"#nid":"681453","#data":{"type":"event","title":"Light-Induced Vortex States and Magnetic Interactions in Quantum Materials","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMahmoud M. Asmar received his Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Birzeit University in the Palestinian territories, graduating summa cum laude. He then pursued his doctoral studies at Ohio University, where he joined the theoretical condensed matter physics group led by Prof. Sergio E. Ulloa. His Ph.D. research explored the role of symmetry breaking in electronic and spin transport in Dirac-like materials. As part of his graduate work, he spent a year as a visiting scientist at the Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin, investigating photoinduced quasi-bound states in graphene.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFollowing his Ph.D., Dr. Asmar held postdoctoral positions at Louisiana State University and the University of Alabama. At LSU, he worked with Profs. Ilya Vekhter and Daniel Sheehy on topological phases of matter, including interface effects and topological superconductivity. At the University of Alabama, he collaborated with Prof. Wang-Kong Tse, focusing on non-equilibrium phenomena and Floquet engineering in quantum materials.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn August 2021, Dr. Asmar joined Kennesaw State University in Marietta, GA, as an Assistant Professor of Physics. His current research centers on spintronics, topological phases, and out-of-equilibrium effects in quantum systems. He has secured approximately $1 million in federal research funding from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, and he was honored with the Kennesaw State University Outstanding Early Career Award in recognition of his contributions to research, teaching, and student mentorship.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThese materials exhibit unique electronic structures and robust topological properties, making them ideal platforms for exploring novel phenomena.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith the advent of high-intensity, broadband radiation sources, Floquet engineering\u2014the control of quantum systems via periodic driving\u2014has emerged as a powerful method for inducing new quantum phases beyond equilibrium. By modulating a system\u2019s properties in time, this approach enables the creation of exotic states not accessible in static systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis presentation explores the impact of Floquet engineering on two-dimensional Dirac materials, focusing on several key phenomena. These include the modification of carrier-mediated magnetic interactions (such as RKKY interactions) under light irradiation, the induction of topological and vortex-like states through optical driving, and the emergence of higher-order topological insulators (HOTIs), where localized corner or hinge modes can be engineered dynamically.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The discovery of Dirac and topological materials has revolutionized the study of quantum matter, opening new possibilities for electronic, spintronic, and optoelectronic applications"}],"uid":"36562","created_gmt":"2025-03-31 13:03:19","changed_gmt":"2025-03-31 13:10:32","author":"tnevels9","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2025-04-09T11:00:00-04:00","event_time_end":"2025-04-09T13:00:00-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2025-04-09T13:00:00-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2025-04-09 15:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2025-04-09 17:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2025-04-09 17:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"location":"Howey Physics Building, Room N202","extras":[],"hg_media":{"676714":{"id":"676714","type":"image","title":"MahmoudAsmar_0010---Copy-2.jpg","body":null,"created":"1743426386","gmt_created":"2025-03-31 13:06:26","changed":"1743426386","gmt_changed":"2025-03-31 13:06:26","alt":"Mahmoud Asmar","file":{"fid":"260537","name":"MahmoudAsmar_0010---Copy-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/31\/MahmoudAsmar_0010---Copy-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/03\/31\/MahmoudAsmar_0010---Copy-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":993682,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/03\/31\/MahmoudAsmar_0010---Copy-2.jpg?itok=7cDaSl3d"}}},"media_ids":["676714"],"groups":[{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1795","name":"Seminar\/Lecture\/Colloquium"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78761","name":"Faculty\/Staff"},{"id":"177814","name":"Postdoc"},{"id":"174045","name":"Graduate students"},{"id":"78751","name":"Undergraduate students"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}