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Probing ultrafast spin-relaxation and precession dynamics in a cuprate Mott insulator with seven-femtosecond optical pulses

Author

Listed:
  • T. Miyamoto

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Y. Matsui

    (University of Tokyo)

  • T. Terashige

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST))

  • T. Morimoto

    (University of Tokyo)

  • N. Sono

    (University of Tokyo)

  • H. Yada

    (University of Tokyo)

  • S. Ishihara

    (Tohoku University)

  • Y. Watanabe

    (Kyoto University)

  • S. Adachi

    (Kyoto University)

  • T. Ito

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)

  • K. Oka

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)

  • A. Sawa

    (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)

  • H. Okamoto

    (University of Tokyo
    National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST))

Abstract

A charge excitation in a two-dimensional Mott insulator is strongly coupled with the surrounding spins, which is observed as magnetic-polaron formations of doped carriers and a magnon sideband in the Mott-gap transition spectrum. However, the dynamics related to the spin sector are difficult to measure. Here, we show that pump-probe reflection spectroscopy with seven-femtosecond laser pulses can detect the optically induced spin dynamics in Nd2CuO4, a typical cuprate Mott insulator. The bleaching signal at the Mott-gap transition is enhanced at ~18 fs. This time constant is attributable to the spin-relaxation time during magnetic-polaron formation, which is characterized by the exchange interaction. More importantly, ultrafast coherent oscillations appear in the time evolution of the reflectivity changes, and their frequencies (1400–2700 cm−1) are equal to the probe energy measured from the Mott-gap transition peak. These oscillations can be interpreted as the interference between charge excitations with two magnons originating from charge–spin coupling.

Suggested Citation

  • T. Miyamoto & Y. Matsui & T. Terashige & T. Morimoto & N. Sono & H. Yada & S. Ishihara & Y. Watanabe & S. Adachi & T. Ito & K. Oka & A. Sawa & H. Okamoto, 2018. "Probing ultrafast spin-relaxation and precession dynamics in a cuprate Mott insulator with seven-femtosecond optical pulses," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-06312-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06312-z
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