Spatiotemporal Order and Parametric Instabilities from First-Principles

TL;DR

This paper develops a first-principles theoretical framework to predict light-induced spatiotemporal parametric instabilities in various materials, aiming to enable the design of time-crystalline order in quantum materials.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive symmetry-based analysis and first-principles calculations for parametric instabilities across all non-centrosymmetric point groups, applied to specific material classes.

Findings

Identification of materials susceptible to light-induced instabilities

Demonstration of symmetry analysis for phonon modes

Potential for realizing time-crystalline order

Abstract

Shaping crystal structure with light is an enduring goal of physics and materials engineering. Here we present calculations in candidate materials selected by symmetry that allow light-induced spatiotemporal parametric instabilities. We demonstrate a theoretical framework that includes a complete symmetry analysis of phonon modes that contribute to parametric instabilities across all non-centrosymmetric point groups, a detailed survey of the materials landscape and finally the computation of nonlinear couplings from first principles. We then showcase detailed results for chiral crystals, ferroelectrics, and layered van der Waals materials. Our results pave the way towards realizing designer time-crystalline order in quantum materials, detectable with time-resolved diffractive probes.