Nonequilibrium control of kagome metals

TL;DR

This paper discusses the potential of using non-equilibrium techniques like light and strain pulses to explore and manipulate exotic quantum orders in kagome metals, revealing new insights into their complex behaviors.

Contribution

It proposes a novel approach to study and control quantum order in kagome metals through time-dependent external perturbations such as light and strain pulses.

Findings

Evidence for high-temperature charge ordering and nematic order in kagome metals.

Proposal for experimental methods to probe time-reversal symmetry breaking.

Framework for non-equilibrium analysis of quantum phases in kagome systems.

Abstract

Exotic quantum order in kagome metals, i.e., quantum materials with a Fermi liquid parent state of electrons on a kagome lattice, has appeared as a vibrant emerging field of condensed matter physics. Already in a small kagome material subclass such as vanadium-based compounds $A$V$_3$Sb$_5$ ($A=$ K, Rb, Cs), the first wave of experimental exploration has brought about manifold evidence for hitherto largely elusive phenomena such as high-temperature charge ordering with orbital currents, nematic order, cascades of charge ordering transitions with hierarchies of ordering vectors, and unconventional superconductivity. We argue that kagome metals promise to be a prototypical ground for the non-equilibrium analysis of quantum order through time-dependent parameter control and manipulation. In particular, we propose to investigate the nematic character of kagome quantum order through light and strain pulses, as well as the nature of time-reversal symmetry breaking and chirality through properly polarized laser pulses.