Evidence of photo-induced dynamic competition of metallic and insulating phase in a layered manganite

Journal Article · Tue Nov 17 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/27/49/495602· OSTI ID:1286932

Li, Yuelin ^[1]; Walko, Daonld A. ^[1]; Li, Qing'an ^[2]; Liu, Yaohua ^[3]; Rosenkranz, Stephen ^[2]; Zheng, Hong ^[2]; Mitchell, J. F. ^[2]

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1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

We show evidence that the competition between the antiferromagetic metallic phase and the charge- and orbital-ordered insulating phase at the reentrant phase boundary of a layered manganite, LaSr₂Mn₂O₇, can be manipulated using ultrafast optical excitation. The time-dependent evolution of the Jahn-Teller superlattice reflection, which indicates the formation of the charge and orbital order, was measured at different laser fluences. The laser-induced enhancement and reduction the Jahn-Teller reflection intensity shows a reversal of sign between earlier (~10 ns) and later (~150 ns) time delays during the relaxation after photo excitation. This effect is consistent with a scenario whereby the laser excitation modulates the local competition between the metallic and the insulating phases.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1286932
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1236502; OSTI ID: 22505290
• Journal Information: Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter, Journal Name: Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter Journal Issue: 49 Vol. 27; ISSN 0953-8984
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE