Nonlinear delayed symmetry breaking in a solid excited by hard x-ray free electron laser pulses

Journal Article · Mon Apr 13 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4917506· OSTI ID:22398913

Mariager, S. O.; Grübel, S.; Staub, U. ^[1]; Huber, T.; Trant, M.; Zhu, D.; Chollet, M.; Robinson, J.; Lemke, H. T. ^[2]; Ingold, G.; Beaud, P. ^[1]; Milne, C. ^[3]

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1. Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen PSI (Switzerland)
2. LCLS, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025 (United States)
3. SwissFEL, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232 Villigen PSI (Switzerland)

We have studied the ultrafast changes of electronic states in bulk ZnO upon intense hard x-ray excitation from a free electron laser. By monitoring the transient anisotropy induced in an optical probe beam, we observe a delayed breaking of the initial c-plane symmetry of the crystal that lasts for several picoseconds. Interaction with the intense x-ray pulses modifies the electronic state filling in a manner inconsistent with a simple increase in electronic temperature. These results may indicate a way to use intense ultrashort x-ray pulses to investigate high-energy carrier dynamics and to control certain properties of solid-state materials.

• OSTI ID: 22398913
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 106, Issue 15; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANISOTROPY
CHARGE CARRIERS
CRYSTALS
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
EXCITATION
FREE ELECTRON LASERS
HARD X RADIATION
MONITORING
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PROBES
SOLIDS
SYMMETRY BREAKING
TRANSIENTS
ZINC OXIDES