Transient Electronic Structure and Melting of a Charge Density Wave in TbTe3
F. Schmitt,1
P. S. Kirchmann,2
U. Bovensiepen,2*
R. G. Moore,1,3
L. Rettig,2
M. Krenz,2
J.-H. Chu,1
N. Ru,1
L. Perfetti,2
D. H. Lu,3
M. Wolf,2,4
I. R. Fisher,1,5
Z.-X. Shen1,3,5*
Obtaining insight into microscopic cooperative effects is a
fascinating topic in condensed matter research because, through
self-coordination and collectivity, they can lead to instabilities
with macroscopic impacts like phase transitions. We used femtosecond
time- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (trARPES)
to optically pump and probe TbTe
3, an excellent model system
with which to study these effects. We drove a transient charge
density wave melting, excited collective vibrations in TbTe
3,
and observed them through their time-, frequency-, and momentum-dependent
influence on the electronic structure. We were able to identify
the role of the observed collective vibration in the transition
and to document the transition in real time. The information
that we demonstrate as being accessible with trARPES will greatly
enhance the understanding of all materials exhibiting collective
phenomena.
2 Fachbereich Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
3 Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
4 Fritz-Haber-Institut, Department of Physical Chemistry, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
5 Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, 476 Lomita Mall, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: uwe.bovensiepen{at}physik.fu-berlin.de (U.B.); zxshen{at}stanford.edu (Z.-X.S.)
