Optical manipulation of the charge-density-wave state in RbV3Sb5

Yuqing Xing, Seokjin Bae, Ethan Ritz, Fan Yang, Turan Birol, Andrea N. Capa Salinas, Brenden R. Ortiz, Stephen D. Wilson, Ziqiang Wang, Rafael M. Fernandes and Vidya Madhavan ()
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Yuqing Xing: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Seokjin Bae: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Ethan Ritz: University of Minnesota
Fan Yang: University of Minnesota
Turan Birol: University of Minnesota
Andrea N. Capa Salinas: University of California Santa Barbara
Brenden R. Ortiz: University of California Santa Barbara
Stephen D. Wilson: University of California Santa Barbara
Ziqiang Wang: Boston College
Rafael M. Fernandes: University of Minnesota
Vidya Madhavan: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Nature, 2024, vol. 631, issue 8019, 60-66

Abstract: Abstract Broken time-reversal symmetry in the absence of spin order indicates the presence of unusual phases such as orbital magnetism and loop currents1–4. The recently discovered kagome superconductors AV3Sb5 (where A is K, Rb or Cs)5,6 display an exotic charge-density-wave (CDW) state and have emerged as a strong candidate for materials hosting a loop current phase. The idea that the CDW breaks time-reversal symmetry7–14 is, however, being intensely debated due to conflicting experimental data15–17. Here we use laser-coupled scanning tunnelling microscopy to study RbV3Sb5. By applying linearly polarized light along high-symmetry directions, we show that the relative intensities of the CDW peaks can be reversibly switched, implying a substantial electro-striction response, indicative of strong nonlinear electron–phonon coupling. A similar CDW intensity switching is observed with perpendicular magnetic fields, which implies an unusual piezo-magnetic response that, in turn, requires time-reversal symmetry breaking. We show that the simplest CDW that satisfies these constraints is an out-of-phase combination of bond charge order and loop currents that we dub a congruent CDW flux phase. Our laser scanning tunnelling microscopy data open the door to the possibility of dynamic optical control of complex quantum phenomenon in correlated materials.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07519-5

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