Superconductivity and charge density waves (CDWs) are competitive, yet coexisting, orders in cuprate superconductors. To understand their microscopic interdependence, a probe capable of discerning their interaction on its natural length and time scale is necessary. We use ultrafast resonant soft x-ray scattering to track the transient evolution of CDW correlations in YBa2Cu3O6+x after the quench of superconductivity by an infrared laser pulse. We observe a nonthermal response of the CDW order characterized by a near doubling of the correlation length within ≈1 picosecond of the superconducting quench. Our results are consistent with a model in which the interaction between superconductivity and CDWs manifests inhomogeneously through disruption of spatial coherence, with superconductivity playing the dominant role in stabilizing CDW topological defects, such as discommensurations.
Wandel, S., Boschini, F., Da Silva Neto, E. H., Shen, L., Na, M. X., Zohar, S., Wang, Y., Welch, S. B., Seaberg, M. H., Koralek, J. D., Dakovski, G. L., Hettel, W., Lin, M. -., Moeller, S. P., Schlotter, W. F., Reid, A. H., Minitti, M. P., Boyle, T., He, F., Sutarto, R., Liang, R., Bonn, D., Hardy, W., Kaindl, R. A., Hawthorn, D. G., Lee, J. -., Kemper, A. F., Damascelli, A., Giannetti, C., Turner, J. J., Coslovich, G., Enhanced charge density wave coherence in a light-quenched, high-temperature superconductor, <<SCIENCE>>, 2022; 376 (6595): 860-864. [doi:10.1126/science.abd7213] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/211482]
Enhanced charge density wave coherence in a light-quenched, high-temperature superconductor
Giannetti, Claudio;
2022
Abstract
Superconductivity and charge density waves (CDWs) are competitive, yet coexisting, orders in cuprate superconductors. To understand their microscopic interdependence, a probe capable of discerning their interaction on its natural length and time scale is necessary. We use ultrafast resonant soft x-ray scattering to track the transient evolution of CDW correlations in YBa2Cu3O6+x after the quench of superconductivity by an infrared laser pulse. We observe a nonthermal response of the CDW order characterized by a near doubling of the correlation length within ≈1 picosecond of the superconducting quench. Our results are consistent with a model in which the interaction between superconductivity and CDWs manifests inhomogeneously through disruption of spatial coherence, with superconductivity playing the dominant role in stabilizing CDW topological defects, such as discommensurations.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
