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Title: Ultrafast dynamics of spin and orbital correlations in quantum materials: an energy- and momentum-resolved perspective

Abstract

Many remarkable properties of quantum materials emerge from states with intricate coupling between the charge, spin and orbital degrees of freedom. Ultrafast photo-excitations of these materials hold great promise for understanding and controlling the properties of these states. Here we introduce time-resolved resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (tr-RIXS) as a means of measuring the charge, spin and orbital excitations out of equilibrium. These excitations encode the correlations and interactions that determine the detailed properties of the states generated. After outlining the basic principles and instrumentation of tr-RIXS, we review our first observations of transient antiferromagnetic correlations in quasi two dimensions in a photo-excited Mott insulator and present possible future routes of this fast-developing technique. The increasing number of X-ray free electron laser facilities not only enables tackling long-standing fundamental scientific problems, but also promises to unleash novel inelastic X-ray scattering spectroscopies.

Authors:
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [3];  [2];  [4];  [5]; ORCiD logo [3]
  1. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Condensed Matter Physics; Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Materials Science Division
  2. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II)
  3. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Department
  4. ShanghaiTech Univ., Shanghai (China). School of Physical Science and Technology
  5. Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Tarragona (Spain)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States); Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of China (MOST); Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1508359
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1480978
Report Number(s):
BNL-209365-2018-JAAM
Journal ID: ISSN 1364-503X; 147631
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-06CH11357; SC0012704
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. A, Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 377; Journal Issue: 2145; Journal ID: ISSN 1364-503X
Publisher:
The Royal Society Publishing
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS; 75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; RIXS; X-ray free electron laser; ultrafast dynamics

Citation Formats

Cao, Y., Mazzone, D. G., Meyers, D., Hill, J. P., Liu, X., Wall, S., and Dean, M. P. M. Ultrafast dynamics of spin and orbital correlations in quantum materials: an energy- and momentum-resolved perspective. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1098/rsta.2017.0480.
Cao, Y., Mazzone, D. G., Meyers, D., Hill, J. P., Liu, X., Wall, S., & Dean, M. P. M. Ultrafast dynamics of spin and orbital correlations in quantum materials: an energy- and momentum-resolved perspective. United States. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2017.0480
Cao, Y., Mazzone, D. G., Meyers, D., Hill, J. P., Liu, X., Wall, S., and Dean, M. P. M. 2019. "Ultrafast dynamics of spin and orbital correlations in quantum materials: an energy- and momentum-resolved perspective". United States. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2017.0480. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1508359.
@article{osti_1508359,
title = {Ultrafast dynamics of spin and orbital correlations in quantum materials: an energy- and momentum-resolved perspective},
author = {Cao, Y. and Mazzone, D. G. and Meyers, D. and Hill, J. P. and Liu, X. and Wall, S. and Dean, M. P. M.},
abstractNote = {Many remarkable properties of quantum materials emerge from states with intricate coupling between the charge, spin and orbital degrees of freedom. Ultrafast photo-excitations of these materials hold great promise for understanding and controlling the properties of these states. Here we introduce time-resolved resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (tr-RIXS) as a means of measuring the charge, spin and orbital excitations out of equilibrium. These excitations encode the correlations and interactions that determine the detailed properties of the states generated. After outlining the basic principles and instrumentation of tr-RIXS, we review our first observations of transient antiferromagnetic correlations in quasi two dimensions in a photo-excited Mott insulator and present possible future routes of this fast-developing technique. The increasing number of X-ray free electron laser facilities not only enables tackling long-standing fundamental scientific problems, but also promises to unleash novel inelastic X-ray scattering spectroscopies.},
doi = {10.1098/rsta.2017.0480},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1508359}, journal = {Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. A, Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences},
issn = {1364-503X},
number = 2145,
volume = 377,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2019},
month = {Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2019}
}

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Cited by: 15 works
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