Ultrafast enhancement of electron-phonon coupling via dynamic quantum well states
Abstract The density of states at the Fermi surface controls many material properties by influencing the low-energy interactions of conductive electrons. Typically, external tuning knobs generate only small perturbations to the density of states in crystals, since their band structure depends strong...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Communications Materials |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-023-00370-7 |
| _version_ | 1797789613682589696 |
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| author | Samuel T. Ciocys Alessandra Lanzara |
| author_facet | Samuel T. Ciocys Alessandra Lanzara |
| author_sort | Samuel T. Ciocys |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The density of states at the Fermi surface controls many material properties by influencing the low-energy interactions of conductive electrons. Typically, external tuning knobs generate only small perturbations to the density of states in crystals, since their band structure depends strongly on the lattice potential. In contrast, quantum well states are contingent on a localized potential extrinsic to the crystal lattice and can be easily modified leading to changes in the density of states at the Fermi level. Here, we are able to control the quantum well potential on the surface of Bi2Se3 with light, driving a density of states singularity below E F at ultrafast timescales, thereby triggering a reversible Lifshitz transition. We reveal a substantial ultrafast enhancement of the electron-phonon coupling with repercussions on the relaxation dynamics in the system. We argue that the relaxation dynamics are governed largely by the interplay of the dynamic density of states of the quantum wells with c-axis scattering from the $${A}_{{{{{{{{\rm{1g}}}}}}}}}^{2}$$ A 1g 2 optical phonon mode. These results demonstrate a powerful way to enhance electron-boson interaction on ultrafast timescales providing new avenues for controlling material properties and driving novel quantum phases of matter. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:53:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-150b521ac1e142d380689f286b79c03e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4443 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:53:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-150b521ac1e142d380689f286b79c03e2023-07-02T11:21:18ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Materials2662-44432023-06-01411910.1038/s43246-023-00370-7Ultrafast enhancement of electron-phonon coupling via dynamic quantum well statesSamuel T. Ciocys0Alessandra Lanzara1Department of Physics, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Physics, University of CaliforniaAbstract The density of states at the Fermi surface controls many material properties by influencing the low-energy interactions of conductive electrons. Typically, external tuning knobs generate only small perturbations to the density of states in crystals, since their band structure depends strongly on the lattice potential. In contrast, quantum well states are contingent on a localized potential extrinsic to the crystal lattice and can be easily modified leading to changes in the density of states at the Fermi level. Here, we are able to control the quantum well potential on the surface of Bi2Se3 with light, driving a density of states singularity below E F at ultrafast timescales, thereby triggering a reversible Lifshitz transition. We reveal a substantial ultrafast enhancement of the electron-phonon coupling with repercussions on the relaxation dynamics in the system. We argue that the relaxation dynamics are governed largely by the interplay of the dynamic density of states of the quantum wells with c-axis scattering from the $${A}_{{{{{{{{\rm{1g}}}}}}}}}^{2}$$ A 1g 2 optical phonon mode. These results demonstrate a powerful way to enhance electron-boson interaction on ultrafast timescales providing new avenues for controlling material properties and driving novel quantum phases of matter.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-023-00370-7 |
| spellingShingle | Samuel T. Ciocys Alessandra Lanzara Ultrafast enhancement of electron-phonon coupling via dynamic quantum well states Communications Materials |
| title | Ultrafast enhancement of electron-phonon coupling via dynamic quantum well states |
| title_full | Ultrafast enhancement of electron-phonon coupling via dynamic quantum well states |
| title_fullStr | Ultrafast enhancement of electron-phonon coupling via dynamic quantum well states |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ultrafast enhancement of electron-phonon coupling via dynamic quantum well states |
| title_short | Ultrafast enhancement of electron-phonon coupling via dynamic quantum well states |
| title_sort | ultrafast enhancement of electron phonon coupling via dynamic quantum well states |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-023-00370-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT samueltciocys ultrafastenhancementofelectronphononcouplingviadynamicquantumwellstates AT alessandralanzara ultrafastenhancementofelectronphononcouplingviadynamicquantumwellstates |