Relaxation processes in complex systems studied with coherent X-rays

by Beatrice Ruta (CNRS - Light Matter Institute, Lyon 1 University, France)

Monday 18 Dec 2017, 12:00 → 13:00 Europe/Rome

Aula 8 (Dip. di Fisica - Edificio E. Fermi)

Many materials, ranging from glasses to soft and biological systems, undergo structural arrest and aging. Following different experimental routes, these materials can be driven in an out-of-equilibrium state, where their properties depend on the previous history of the system and spontaneously evolve with time. The slow dynamics of out-of-equilibrium materials can be followed thanks to the unique properties of X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy which probes the dynamics at the nanometric and atomic scale. I will present few xamples on the relaxation dynamics in arrested states, including soft glasses, bidimensional systems and gels. Future scientific possibilities will be discussed as well.