Optical manipulation of electronic dimensionality in a quantum material

Shaofeng Duan, Yun Cheng, Wei Xia, Yuanyuan Yang, Chengyang Xu, Fengfeng Qi, Chaozhi Huang, Tianwei Tang, Yanfeng Guo, Weidong Luo, Dong Qian, Dao Xiang (), Jie Zhang and Wentao Zhang ()
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Shaofeng Duan: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Yun Cheng: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Wei Xia: ShanghaiTech University
Yuanyuan Yang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Chengyang Xu: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Fengfeng Qi: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Chaozhi Huang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Tianwei Tang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Yanfeng Guo: ShanghaiTech University
Weidong Luo: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Dong Qian: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Dao Xiang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Jie Zhang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Wentao Zhang: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Nature, 2021, vol. 595, issue 7866, 239-244

Abstract: Abstract Exotic phenomena can be achieved in quantum materials by confining electronic states into two dimensions. For example, relativistic fermions are realized in a single layer of carbon atoms1, the quantized Hall effect can result from two-dimensional (2D) systems2,3, and the superconducting transition temperature can be considerably increased in a one-atomic-layer material4,5. Ordinarily, a 2D electronic system can be obtained by exfoliating the layered materials, growing monolayer materials on substrates, or establishing interfaces between different materials. Here we use femtosecond infrared laser pulses to invert the periodic lattice distortion sectionally in a three-dimensional (3D) charge density wave material (1T-TiSe2), creating macroscopic domain walls of transient 2D ordered electronic states with unusual properties. The corresponding ultrafast electronic and lattice dynamics are captured by time-resolved and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy6 and ultrafast electron diffraction at energies of the order of megaelectronvolts7. Moreover, in the photoinduced 2D domain wall near the surface we identify a phase with enhanced density of states and signatures of potential opening of an energy gap near the Fermi energy. Such optical modulation of atomic motion is an alternative path towards realizing 2D electronic states and will be a useful platform upon which novel phases in quantum materials may be discovered.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03643-8

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