Laser-Induced Charge-Density-Wave Transient Depinning in Chromium

TL;DR

This study uses time-resolved x-ray diffraction to observe laser-induced transient shear strain in chromium's charge-density wave, indicating potential for laser-controlled charge transport in three-dimensional systems.

Contribution

It provides the first evidence of laser-induced CDW sliding in 3D, revealing a transient shear strain that breaks lattice symmetry and suggests new ways to manipulate correlated charges.

Findings

Transient CDW shear strain observed post-laser excitation

Evidence of laser-induced CDW sliding in 3D systems

Potential for laser-assisted charge transport applications

Abstract

We report here on time-resolved x-ray diffraction measurements following femtosecond laser excitation in pure bulk chromium. Comparing the evolution of incommensurate charge-density-wave (CDW) and atomic lattice reflections, we show that, few nanoseconds after laser excitation, the CDW undergoes different structural changes than the atomic lattice. We give evidence for a transient CDW shear strain that breaks the lattice point symmetry. This strain is characteristic of sliding CDWs, as observed in other incommensurate CDW systems, suggesting the laser-induced CDW sliding capability in 3D systems. This first evidence opens perspectives for unconventional laser-assisted transport of correlated charges.