Ultrafast switching of composite order in A$_3$C$_{60}$

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates ultrafast control of orbital states in fulleride compounds, enabling rapid switching between metallic and insulating phases and rotating order parameters, with potential applications in memory devices.

Contribution

It introduces a nonequilibrium dynamical mean field theory approach to manipulate Jahn-Teller metal states in fullerides, achieving sub-picosecond orbital switching and order parameter rotation.

Findings

Orbital states can be switched between metallic and insulating within sub-picoseconds.

Order parameters can be rotated among three equivalent states via electric fields.

Fulleride compounds are promising for ultrafast memory applications.

Abstract

We study the controlled manipulation of the Jahn-Teller metal state of fulleride compounds using nonequilibrium dynamical mean field theory. This anomalous metallic state is a spontaneous orbital-selective Mott phase, which is characterized by one metallic and two insulating orbitals. Using protocols based on transiently reduced hopping amplitudes or periodic electric fields, we demonstrate the possibility to switch orbitals between Mott insulating and metallic on a sub-picosecond timescale, and to rotate the order parameter between three equivalent states that can be distinguished by their anisotropic conductance. The Jahn-Teller metal phase of alkali-doped fullerides thus provides a promising platform for ultrafast persistent memory devices.