Collapse of layer dimerization in the photo-induced hidden state of 1T-TaS2.

Nature Communications
Quirin StahlTobias Ritschel

Abstract

Photo-induced switching between collective quantum states of matter is a fascinating rising field with exciting opportunities for novel technologies. Presently, very intensively studied examples in this regard are nanometer-thick single crystals of the layered material 1T-TaS2, where picosecond laser pulses can trigger a fully reversible insulator-to-metal transition (IMT). This IMT is believed to be connected to the switching between metastable collective quantum states, but the microscopic nature of this so-called hidden quantum state remained largely elusive up to now. Here, we characterize the hidden quantum state of 1T-TaS2 by means of state-of-the-art x-ray diffraction and show that the laser-driven IMT involves a marked rearrangement of the charge and orbital order in the direction perpendicular to the TaS2-layers. More specifically, we identify the collapse of interlayer molecular orbital dimers as a key mechanism for this non-thermal collective transition between two truly long-range ordered electronic crystals.

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Citations

Apr 8, 2021·Nature Communications·Q M LiuN L Wang
Apr 21, 2021·Nature Communications·Jan RavnikDragan Mihailovic
May 29, 2021·Physical Review Letters·Jinwon LeeHan Woong Yeom
Jul 7, 2021·ACS Nano·Carla Boix-ConstantEugenio Coronado

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
x-ray diffraction
electron diffraction

Software Mentioned

numpy
CrysAlis Pro
fabio
matplotlib

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