Near-infrared light-induced superconducting-like state in underdoped YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$ studied by $c$-axis terahertz third-harmonic generation

TL;DR

This study investigates the light-induced transient state in underdoped YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$ using terahertz third-harmonic generation, revealing that the NIR-induced state above $T_c$ differs from equilibrium superconductivity.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the NIR-pumped state with a $1/\omega$ spectral response is distinct from true superconductivity, using nonlinear THz response to differentiate the states.

Findings

NIR excitation induces a $1/\omega$-like spectral response above $T_c$.

THz third-harmonic generation from Josephson current is absent in the photoexcited state.

The photoinduced state differs from equilibrium superconductivity.

Abstract

Recent observation of the light-induced superconducting (SC)-like transient response in the $c$-axis optical conductivity far above the SC transition temperature $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ in underdoped YBa$_2$Cu$_3$O$_y$ (YBCO) has attracted great attention in the field of high-$T_{\mathrm{c}}$ superconductors. Since then, various theoretical and experimental studies have been devoted to elucidating its microscopic origin. One prominent fingerprint of the light-induced superconductivity is the emergence of $1/\omega$-like spectral behavior in the imaginary part of the optical conductivity in the terahertz (THz) frequency range. However, the spectral profile can also be described by the Drude response of the quasiparticles (QPs) with a substantially low scattering rate. To circumvent this critical ambiguity, we investigated the light-induced nonequilibrium state in an underdoped YBCO sample with $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ of 61 K using the nonlinear THz optical response originating from the SC collective excitation of the ac-driven Josephson current. Upon the near-infrared (NIR) photoexcitation above $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ in the YBCO sample, the $1/\omega$-like spectral behavior in the imaginary part of the optical conductivity emerges, consistent with the previous studies. However, the THz third-harmonic generation arising from the ac-driven Josephson current along the $c$-axis was absent in the NIR photoexcited state. These results indicate that the NIR-pump induced state exhibiting the $1/\omega$-like response above $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ is distinct from the long-range ordered SC state in equilibrium. Based on these observations, the possible origins of the irregularly coherent charge carrier response along the $c$-axis induced by the photoexcitation are discussed.