arXiv subjects

J. Bowlan

Publications and source records attributed to J. Bowlan.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Ultrafast spin density wave transition in Chromium governed by thermalized electron gas

The energy and momentum selectivity of time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy is exploited to address the ultrafast dynamics of the antiferromagnetic spin density wave (SDW) transition photoexcited in epitaxial thin films of chromium. We are able to quantitatively extract the evolution of the SDW order parameter $Δ$ through the ultrafast phase transition. $Δ$ is defined by the transient temperature of the thermalized electron gas. The complete destruction of SDW order on a sub-100~fs time scale is observed, much faster than for conventional charge density wave materials. Our results reveal that equilibrium concepts for phase transitions such as the order parameter may be utilized even in the strongly non-adiabatic regime of ultrafast photo-excitation.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Probing and controlling terahertz-driven structural dynamics with surface sensitivity

Intense, single-cycle terahertz (THz) pulses offer a promising approach for understanding and controlling the properties of a material on an ultrafast time scale. In particular, resonantly exciting phonons leads to a better understanding of how they couple to other degrees of freedom in the material (e.g., ferroelectricity, conductivity and magnetism) while enabling coherent control of lattice vibrations and the symmetry changes associated with them. However, an ultrafast method for observing the resulting structural changes at the atomic scale is essential for studying phonon dynamics. A simple approach for doing this is optical second harmonic generation (SHG), a technique with remarkable sensitivity to crystalline symmetry in the bulk of a material as well as at surfaces and interfaces. This makes SHG an ideal method for probing phonon dynamics in topological insulators (TI), materials with unique surface transport properties. Here, we resonantly excite a polar phonon mode in the canonical TI Bi$_2$Se$_3$ with intense THz pulses and probe the subsequent response with SHG. This enables us to separate the photoinduced lattice dynamics at the surface from transient inversion symmetry breaking in the bulk. Furthermore, we coherently control the phonon oscillations by varying the time delay between a pair of driving THz pulses. Our work thus demonstrates a versatile, table-top tool for probing and controlling ultrafast phonon dynamics in materials, particularly at surfaces and interfaces, such as that between a TI and a magnetic material, where exotic new states of matter are predicted to exist.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Probing ultrafast spin dynamics in the antiferromagnetic multiferroic HoMnO$_3$ through a magnon resonance

We demonstrate a new approach for directly measuring the ultrafast energy transfer between elec- trons and magnons, enabling us to track spin dynamics in an antiferromagnet (AFM). In multiferroic HoMnO3, optical photoexcitation creates hot electrons, after which changes in the spin order are probed with a THz pulse tuned to a magnon resonance. This reveals a photoinduced transparency, which builds up over several picoseconds as the spins heat up due to energy transfer from hot elec- trons via phonons. This spin-lattice thermalization time is ?10 times faster than that of typical ferromagnetic (FM) manganites. We qualitatively explain the fundamental differences in spin-lattice thermalization between FM and AFM systems and apply a Boltzmann equation model for treating AFMs. Our work gives new insight into spin-lattice thermalization in AFMs and demonstrates a new approach for directly monitoring the ultrafast dynamics of spin order in these systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Electric polarization observed in single crystals of multiferroic Lu2MnCoO6

We report electric polarization and magnetization measurements in single crystals of double perovskite Lu2MnCoO6 using pulsed magnetic fields and optical second harmonic generation (SHG) in DC magnetic fields. we observe well-resolved magnetic field-induced changes in the electric polarization in single crystals and thereby resolve the question about whether multiferroic behavior is intrinsic to these materials or an extrinsic feature of polycrystals. We find electric polarization along the crystalline b-axis, that is suppressed by applying a magnetic fields along c-axis and advance a model for the origin of magnetoelectric coupling. We furthermore map the phase diagram using both capacitance and electric polarization to identify regions of ordering and regions of magnetoelectric hysteresis. This compound is a rare example of coupled hysteretic behavior in the magnetic and electric properties. The ferromagnetic-like magnetic hysteresis loop that couples to hysteretic polarization can be attributed not to ordinary ferromagnetic domains, but to the rich physics of magnetic frustration of Ising-like spins in the axial next-nearest neighbor interaction model.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics in the Large Magnetoresistance Material WTe$_{2}$

Ultrafast optical pump-probe spectroscopy is used to track carrier dynamics in the large magnetoresistance material WTe$_{2}$. Our experiments reveal a fast relaxation process occurring on a sub-picosecond time scale that is caused by electron-phonon thermalization, allowing us to extract the electron-phonon coupling constant. An additional slower relaxation process, occurring on a time scale of $\sim$5-15 picoseconds, is attributed to phonon-assisted electron-hole recombination. As the temperature decreases from 300 K, the timescale governing this process increases due to the reduction of the phonon population. However, below $\sim$50 K, an unusual decrease of the recombination time sets in, most likely due to a change in the electronic structure that has been linked to the large magnetoresistance observed in this material.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2014

Time-resolved terahertz dynamics in thin films of the topological insulator Bi$_{2}$Se$_3$

We use optical pump--THz probe spectroscopy at low temperatures to study the hot carrier response in thin Bi$_2$Se$_3$ films of several thicknesses, allowing us to separate the bulk from the surface transient response. We find that for thinner films the photoexcitation changes the transport scattering rate and reduces the THz conductivity, which relaxes within 10 picoseconds (ps). For thicker films, the conductivity increases upon photoexcitation and scales with increasing both the film thickness and the optical fluence, with a decay time of approximately 5 ps as well as a much higher scattering rate. These different dynamics are attributed to the surface and bulk electrons, respectively, and demonstrate that long-lived mobile surface photo-carriers can be accessed independently below certain film thicknesses for possible optoelectronic applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗