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arXiv · 2602.20686

Large Photoelasticity in Topological Antiferromagnet Mn$_3$Sn Studied by Coherent Acoustic Phonon

Yuchen Wang·Takuya Matsuda·Yuta Murotani·Hanyi Peng·Takumi Matsuo·Tomoya Higo·Satoru Nakatsuji·Ryusuke Matsunaga
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Abstract

We investigate the role of ultrafast strain on the electronic and optical responses in topological antiferromagnet Mn$_3$Sn thin films using near-infrared femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. Coherent acoustic phonons are generated and exhibit remarkably large oscillations in differential transmission exceeding 1% in amplitude. Our quantitative analysis reveals that Mn$_3$Sn possesses an unusually large near-infrared photoelastic coefficient, several times greater than those in conventional materials, indicating a remarkable sensitivity of the electronic states to lattice distortions. This work establishes a quantitative framework for understanding and utilizing strain-induced responses in Mn$_3$Sn, paving a foundation for exploring coupled electron-phonon-magnon dynamics for ultrafast straintronics.

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Yuchen Wang, Takuya Matsuda, Yuta Murotani, Hanyi Peng, Takumi Matsuo, Tomoya Higo, Satoru Nakatsuji, Ryusuke Matsunaga. 2026-02-24. Large Photoelasticity in Topological Antiferromagnet Mn$_3$Sn Studied by Coherent Acoustic Phonon. https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.20686

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