Quench-drive spectroscopy of cuprates

Area of Science:

• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science
• Quantum Materials

Background:

• Cuprates are d-wave superconductors with complex phase diagrams.
• Superconducting fluctuations and phase coherence are sensitive to temperature and disorder.
• Photoexcitation, particularly mid-infrared driving, can enhance phase coherence in cuprates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of photoexcitation on cuprate superconductivity using time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy.
• To analyze the non-equilibrium dynamics and collective modes, including the Higgs mode.
• To identify signatures of transiently induced or increased phase coherence, especially in the pseudogap phase.

Main Methods:

• Calculation of the full time evolution of current in a cuprate using a quench-drive spectroscopy setup.
• Analysis of the response in Fourier space with respect to real time and quench-drive delay time.
• Probing collective modes and higher harmonic modulations.

Main Results:

• Observed transient modulation of higher harmonics.
• Identified signatures related to the Higgs mode.
• Demonstrated the potential for characterizing ground state phases and induced phase coherence.

Conclusions:

• The quench-drive spectroscopy approach can reveal transient phenomena in superconductors.
• This method provides a pathway to study induced or increased phase coherence, particularly in the pseudogap phase.
• The findings pave the way for new experimental schemes to characterize superconductors and their phase transitions.