Abstract
Photoinduced phase transitions are of special interest in condensed matter physics1,2 because they can be used to change complex macroscopic material properties on the ultrafast timescale. Cooperative interactions between microscopic degrees of freedom greatly enhance the number and nature of accessible states, making it possible to switch electronic, magnetic or structural properties in new ways2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Photons with high energies, of the order of electron volts, in particular are able to access electronic states that may differ greatly from states produced with stimuli close to equilibrium10. In this study we report the photoinduced change in the lattice structure of a charge and orbitally ordered Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 thin film using picosecond time-resolved X-ray diffraction. The photoinduced state is structurally ordered, homogeneous, metastable and has crystallographic parameters different from any thermodynamically accessible state. A femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopic study shows the formation of an electronic gap in this state. In addition, the threshold-like behaviour and high efficiency in photo-generation yield of this gapped state highlight the important role of cooperative interactions in the formation process. These combined observations point towards a ‘hidden insulating phase’ distinct from that found in the hitherto known phase diagram.
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Acknowledgements
This work was partially supported by Grant-in-Aids for Scientific Research from the MEXT, Japan, and the G-COE programme for chemistry in Tokyo Institute of Technology. This work was carried out with the approval of the Photon Factory Program Advisory Committee (Proposal No. 2004S1-001). The authors thank Y. Okimoto (Tokyo Institute of Technology) for fruitful discussions.
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Sample preparation and optical measurements were carried out by Y.O., M.N., R.T. and K.M. H.I. planned the X-ray measurements and carried out the experiment and analysis. S.N., S-i.A., T-h.A. and H.S. planned, conducted and analysed the X-ray measurements; in addition, T.S., A.T., K.I., M.C. and L.G. assisted with the X-ray measurements. N.D. also assisted with the X-ray experiment under the supervision of A.C., as part of the G-COE student exchange program. All authors discussed the results and contributed to the manuscript. S-y.K. and K.M. initiated and oversaw the work.
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Ichikawa, H., Nozawa, S., Sato, T. et al. Transient photoinduced ‘hidden’ phase in a manganite. Nature Mater 10, 101–105 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2929
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat2929
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