Addressing these questions, Dr. Fabian Menges seeks to unravel the thermal signatures of energy transfer and conversion down to the elementary steps of thermodynamic processes. In the initial stage of the project, he will develop a novel thermal imaging method, combining techniques of scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) with that of time-resolved optical near-field spectroscopy. By using the apex of a thermo-plasmonic scanning probe tip as ultrafast and nanoconfined thermal sensor, he intends to investigate the emergence of dissipative structures in correlated materials and molecular systems. Besides demonstrating the real-space characterization of turbulence in hydrodynamic electron fluids, another main research goal of him is to decipher the thermalization trajectories of molecular structures. With his work, he envisions to uncover how non-equilibrium physical structures can translate self-organization processes into ‚life-like’ functionalities. He aims to pave the way for the characterization and development of thermal machines based on quantum critical fluids and molecular engines.
