Elia Razzoli

Dr. Elia Razzoli serves as a beamline scientist and group leader at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), where he directs the Furka group at the SwissFEL facility. He spearheads the design and installation of the Furka (LAP) experimental station on the soft X-ray beamline Athos, advancing ultrafast quantum materials research through cutting-edge spectroscopic techniques.

His academic foundation includes:

• Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Politecnico di Milano
• PhD from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) focused on unconventional superconductors via angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy
• Postdoctoral research at Université de Fribourg on 2D van der Waals materials, followed by an SNF-funded position at the University of British Columbia studying topological matter

Razzoli's research centers on quantum materials—specifically unconventional superconductors, van der Waals systems, charge density waves, and topological semimetals. He integrates spin-, time-, and angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) with resonant X-ray scattering at synchrotrons and free-electron lasers, complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. His work targets the microscopic origins of quantum phenomena through both static and ultrafast dynamical investigations.

His 2013–2020 publications reveal a trajectory from cuprate superconductivity to topological materials, emphasizing ultrafast quenching techniques and spin-orbit coupling effects. Key themes include electron-phonon interactions in quantum materials, Weyl semimetal physics, and phase coherence collapse in high-T_c systems—all published in high-impact journals like Nature Physics and Science.

Recognition includes:

• 2016 Advanced-Postdoc mobility Fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)

As group leader, Razzoli directs experimental development for the Furka station while securing funding for quantum materials instrumentation. His team pioneers laser-ARPES integration with SwissFEL's soft X-ray capabilities to probe femtosecond-scale material dynamics.

The Furka group is establishing a next-generation endstation at SwissFEL specializing in time-resolved studies of quantum matter, with current efforts focused on commissioning laser-based ARPES systems for ultrafast electron dynamics imaging.