Fuhai Su | Searcharxiv

arXiv2023

Probing the electronic topological transitions of WTe2 under pressure using ultrafast spectroscopy

We investigate the nonequilibrium photocarrier dynamics of WTe2 under pressure using the optical pump-probe spectroscopy. The pressure dependences of the electronic relaxation manifest anomalous changes around 0.8, 3.5, and 6 GPa, indicating the abruptions in the electron-phonon interactions. In addition, the coherent phonon oscillations originating from shear mode suddenly disappears above 3.5 GPa, which marks the onset of Td-1T' structural phase transition. Supported by the theoretical calculation, we unveil the electronic topological transitions (ETTs), especially an emergence of a new type-II Weyl point for Td-WTe2 under pressure. Our work demonstrates a novel route to probe the ETTs under pressure.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Metallization and molecular dissociation of dense fluid nitrogen

Diatomic nitrogen is an archetypal molecular system known for its exceptional stability and complex behavior at high pressures and temperatures, including rich solid polymorphism, formation of energetic states, and an insulator-to-metal transformation coupled to a change in chemical bonding. However, the thermobaric conditions of the fluid molecular-polymer phase boundary and associated metallization have not been experimentally established. Here, by applying dynamic laser heating of compressed nitrogen and using fast optical spectroscopy to study electronic properties, we observe a transformation from insulating (molecular) to conducting dense fluid nitrogen at temperatures that decrease with pressure, and establish that metallization, and presumably fluid polymerization, occurs above 125 GPa at 2500 K. Our observations create a better understanding of the interplay between molecular dissociation, melting, and metallization revealing features that are common in simple molecular systems.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗