Photoinduced phase transitions in two-dimensional charge-density-wave 1T-TaS_2

Charge-density-wave(CDW) materials with strongly correlated electrons have broadband light absorption and ultrafast response to light irradiation, and hence hold great potential in photodetection. 1 T-TaS2 is a typical CDW material with various thermodynamically CDW ground states at different temperatures and fertile out-of-equilibrium intermediate/hidden states. In particular, the light pulses can trigger melting of CDW ordering and also forms hidden states, which exhibits strikingly different electrical conductivity compared to the ground phase. Here, we review the recent research on phase transitions in 1 T-TaS2 and their potential applications in photodetection. We also discuss the ultrafast melting of CDW ordering by ultrafast laser irradiation and the out-of-equilibrium intermediate/hidden states by optical/electrical pulse. For photodetection, demonstrations of photoconductors and bolometers are introduced. Finally, we discuss some of the challenges that remain.     

Spectroscopic and dc-transport investigations of the electronic properties of $\mathsf{TaSe_{3}}$

TaSe₃ belongs to a class of low-dimensional materials characterized by the interplay and competition between dimensionality crossover and broken symmetry ground states. A comprehensive study by dc-transport, optical, and angle-resolved photoemission (ARPES) experiments shows that the electronic properties of this compound are strongly anisotropic between the chain and the transverse crystallographic direction. Even though TaSe₃ fails to undergo a charge-density-wave (CDW) phase transition, we found evidence for short range order CDW segments, which progressively disappear with decreasing temperature.Received: 27 April 2004, Published online: 23 July 2004PACS: 78.20.-e Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films - 71.30. + h Metal-insulator transitions and other electronic transitions - 71.45.Lr Charge-density-wave systems     

Theory for Difference Between Photoinduced Phase and Thermally Excited Phase

A possible difference between the photoinduced phase and the thermally excited one is studied by using a two-dimensional extended Peierls-Hubbard model, which includes a strong electron-phonon coupling and a on-site interelectron repulsion, as well as an anharmonic lattice potential. Because of this anharmonicity, the system undergoes a first order phase transition from an insulating CDW state to a metallic one at a high temperature. Although some sign of an SDW order is expected to appear due to this repulsion, it is always hidden in any equilibrium phase of the present system. In fact, it is hidden, not only in the CDW ground state, but also in this metallic one, since the high temperature itself destroys the SDW order, far before the CDW-metal transition occurs, while a photo-excitation at low enough temperature is shown to generate a local metastable SDW domain. Therefore, to observe the presence of such Coulomb interaction and the resultant broken symmetry, a nonequilibrium photoinduced phase is shown to be most straightforward. Thus, the photoinduce phase transition can make an interaction appear as a broken symmetry only in this phase, even though this interaction is almost completely hidden in all the equilibrium phases from low temperature to high ones.     

Tunable charge density wave in TiS_3 nanoribbons

Recently, modifications of charge density wave(CDW) in two-dimensional(2D) show intriguing properties in quasi-2D materials such as layered transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDCs). Optical, electrical transport measurements and scanning tunneling microscopy uncover the enormous difference on the many-body states when the thickness is reduced down to monolayer. However, the CDW in quasi-one-dimensional(1D) materials like transition metal trichalcogenides(TMTCs) is yet to be explored in low dimension whose mechanism is likely distinct from their quasi-2D counterparts.Here, we report a systematic study on the CDW properties of titanium trisulfide(TiS_3). Two phase transition temperatures were observed to decrease from 53 K(103 K) to 46 K(85 K) for the bulk and 15-nm thick nanoribbon, respectively,which arises from the increased fluctuation effect across the chain in the nanoribbon structure, thereby destroying the CDW coherence. It also suggests a strong anisotropy of CDW states in quasi-1D TMTCs which is different from that in TMDCs.Remarkably, by using back gate of-30 V ～ 70 V in 15-nm device, we can tune the second transition temperature from110 K(at-30 V) to 93 K(at 70 V) owing to the altered electron concentration. Finally, the optical approach through the impinging of laser beams on the sample surface is exploited to manipulate the CDW transition, where the melting of the CDW states shows a strong dependence on the excitation energy. Our results demonstrate TiS_3 as a promising quasi-1D CDW material and open up a new window for the study of collective phases in TMTCs.     

Collective quantum tunneling of strongly correlated electrons in commensurate mesoscopic rings

We present a new effect that is possible for strongly correlated electrons in commensurate mesoscopic rings: the collective tunneling of electrons between classically equivalent configurations, corresponding to ordered states possessing charge and spin density waves (CDW, SDW) and charge separation (CS). Within an extended Hubbard model at half filling studied by exact numerical diagonalization, we demonstrate that the ground state phase diagram comprises, besides conventional critical lines separating states characterized by different orderings (e.g. CDW, SDW, CS), critical lines separating phases with the same ordering (e.g. CDW-CDW) but with different symmetries. While the former also exist in infinite systems, the latter are specific for mesoscopic systems and directly related to a collective tunnel effect. We emphasize that, in order to construct correctly a phase diagram for mesoscopic rings, the examination of CDW, SDW and CS correlation functions alone is not sufficient, and one should also consider the symmetry of the wave function that cannot be broken. We present examples demonstrating that the jumps in relevant physical properties at the conventional and new critical lines are of comparable magnitude. These transitions could be studied experimentally e.g. by optical absorption in mesoscopic systems. Possible candidates are cyclic molecules and ring-like nanostructures of quantum dots. Received 27 November 2000     

Quantum phase transition in spin-3/2 systems on the hexagonal lattice — optimum ground state approach

Optimum ground states are constructed in two dimensions by using so called vertex state models. These models are graphical generalizations of the well-known matrix product ground states for spin chains. On the hexagonal lattice we obtain a one-parametric set of ground states for a five-dimensional manifold of S = 3/2 Hamiltonians. Correlation functions within these ground states are calculated using Monte-Carlo simulations. In contrast to the one-dimensional situation, these states exhibit a parameter-induced second order phase transition. In the disordered phase, two-spin correlations decay exponentially, but in the Néel ordered phase alternating long-range correlations are dominant. We also show that ground state properties can be obtained from the exact solution of a corresponding free-fermion model for most values of the parameter.     

Observation of multiple charge density wave phases in epitaxial monolayer 1T-VSe2 film

As a special order of electronic correlation induced by spatial modulation, the charge density wave (CDW) phenomena in condensed matters attract enormous research interests. Here, using scanning—tunneling microscopy in various temperatures, we discover a hidden incommensurate stripe-like CDW order besides the ($sqrt{7}$ × $sqrt{3}$) CDW phase at low-temperature of 4 K in the epitaxial monolayer 1T-VSe₂} film. Combining the variable-temperature angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopic (ARPES) measurements, we discover a two-step transition of an anisotropic CDW gap structure that consists of two parts Δ₁ and Δ₂. The gap part Δ₁ that closes around ～ 150 K is accompanied with the vanish of the ($sqrt{7}$ × $sqrt{3}$) CDW phase. While another momentum-dependent gap part Δ₂ can survive up to ～ 340 K, and is suggested to the result of the incommensurate CDW phase. This two-step transition with anisotropic gap opening and the resulted evolution in ARPES spectra are corroborated by our theoretical calculation based on a phenomenological form for the self-energy containing a two-gap structure Δ₁ + Δ₂, which suggests different forming mechanisms between the ($sqrt{7}$ × $sqrt{3}$) and the incommensurate CDW phases. Our findings provide significant information and deep understandings on the CDW phases in monolayer 1T-VSe₂} film as a two-dimensional (2D) material.     

Bond and charge ordering in low-dimensional organic conductors

We review 35 years of structural studies of quasi-1D organic conductors during which the concepts of 2k_F and 4k_F BOW and CDW have been elaborated. In strongly correlated quarter filled band systems these instabilities give rise to SP, DM and CO ground states. We relate these structural features to the instabilities of the 1D electron gas. To stabilize the different ground states the nature of the electron-phonon coupling has to be considered together with the coupling of the organic stacks with the anion sublattice. New results concerning the classification of the SP phase in connection with the adiabatic or antiadiabatic phonon field and its competition with the CO are also introduced.     

Stable nonequilibrium probability densities and phase transitions for meanfield models in the thermodynamic limit

A nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation is derived to describe the cooperative behavior of general stochastic systems interacting via mean-field couplings, in the limit of an infinite number of such systems. Disordered systems are also considered. In the weak-noise limit; a general result yields the possibility of having bifurcations from stationary solutions of the nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation into stable time-dependent solutions. The latter are interpreted as non-equilibrium probability distributions (states), and the bifurcations to them as nonequilibrium phase transitions. In the thermodynamic limit, results for three models are given for illustrative purposes. A model of self-synchronization of nonlinear oscillators presents a Hopf bifurcation to a time-periodic probability density, which can be analyzed for any value of the noise. The effects of disorder are illustrated by a simplified version of the Sompolinsky-Zippelius model of spin-glasses. Finally, results for the Fukuyama-Lee-Fisher model of charge-density waves are given. A singular perturbation analysis shows that the depinning transition is a bifurcation problem modified by the disorder noise due to impurities. Far from the bifurcation point, the CDW is either pinned or free, obeying (to leading order) the Grüner-Zawadowki-Chaikin equation. Near the bifurcation, the disorder noise drastically modifies the pattern, giving a quenched average of the CDW current which is constant. Critical exponents are found to depend on the noise, and they are larger than Fisher's values for the two probability distributions considered.     

Metamagnetic transitions in frustrated spin-ladders

Variational calculations of the magnetization curve at zero temperature are reported for two models of frustrated ladder spin systems with ferro-and antiferromagnetic interactions. The ground state of the models is either ferro-or antiferromagnetic depending on model parameters. The character of the transition from the ferro-to the antiferromagnetic state differs from that of the corresponding transition in the XXZ model and is characterized by the appearance of bound multimagnon states. The existence of these states is shown to result in magnetization jumps at certain external field values. The region of the phase diagram where such jumps occur was determined, and the corresponding critical field values were found.     

Theory for photoinduced structural phase transitions

A general concept for photoinduced structural phase transitions is developed in terms of the hidden multistability of the ground state and the proliferations of optically excited states. Taking the ionic→neutral (I - N) phase transition in the organic charge transfer crystal, TTF—CA, as a typical example for this type of transition, we, at first, theoretically show an adiabatic path of this transition, which starts from a single charge transfer exciton in the ionic phase, but finally reaches a neutral domain with a macroscopic size. In connection with this I—N transition, the concept of the initial condition sensitivity is also developed so as to clarify experimentally observed nonlinear characteristics of this material. In the next, using a more simplified model for the many-exciton system, we theoretically study the early time quantum dynamics of the exciton proliferation, which finally results in the domain formation of a large number of ex-citons. For this purpose, we derive a stepwise iterative equation to describe the exciton proliferation, and clarify the origin of the initial condition sensitivity.     

MS-Windows software for space groups: Application to domain structure symmetry analysis

An integrated package of programs has been developed for IBM-Compatible PCs to investigate the structures and representations of crystallographic space groups. The package is implemented as a Microsoft Windows application using Borland Delphi with user code in Object-Pascal.

Parts of this software have been adapted to assist in the symmetry analysis of domain structures. For a given phase transition the software identifies all domain states and finds, e.g. (i) symmetry groups of all domain states, (ii) all operations that transform a given domain state into another domain state, (iii) classes of crystallographically equivalent domain pairs with similar domain distinction, (iv) symmetries of ordered and unordered domain pairs, (v) twinning groups of domain pairs and associated minimal permutable sets of domain states, (vi) intermediate groups of the inverse twinning problem.

As an illustrative example of the use of the software we consider the symmetry analysis of domain structures in the 2H polytype TaSe₂.     

Charge density wave states in phase-engineered monolayer VTe2

Charge density wave (CDW) strongly affects the electronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials and can be tuned by phase engineering. Among 2D transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), VTe$_{2}$ was predicted to require small energy for its phase transition and shows unexpected CDW states in its T-phase. However, the CDW state of H-VTe$_{2}$ has been barely reported. Here, we investigate the CDW states in monolayer (ML) H-VTe$_{2}$, induced by phase-engineering from T-phase VTe$_{2}$. The phase transition between T- and H-VTe$_{2}$ is revealed with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) measurements. For H-VTe$_{2}$, scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) results show a robust $2\sqrt 3 \times 2\sqrt 3 $ CDW superlattice with a transition temperature above 450 K. Our findings provide a promising way for manipulating the CDWs in 2D materials and show great potential in its application of nanoelectronics.     

Quasihole Tunneling in Disordered Fractional Quantum Hall Systems

Fractional quantum Hall systems are often described by model wave functions,which are the ground states of pure systems with short-range interaction.A primary example is the Laughlin wave function,which supports Abelian quasiparticles with fractionalized charge.In the presence of disorder,the wave function of the ground state is expected to deviate from the Laughlin form.We study the disorder-driven colla.pse of the quantum Hall state by analyzing the evolution of the ground state and the single-quasihole state.In particular,we demonstrate that the quasihole tunneling amplitude can signal the fractional quantum Hall phase to insulator transition.     

Charge-density waves in self-assembled halogen-bridged metal chains

Self-assembled growth of an ordered layer of Pt-Br-Pt chains on a Pt(110) surface is demonstrated. Upon slight doping with excess bromine, charge-density wave (CDW) domains separated by well-localized solutions are observed in the Br/Pt layer by scanning tunneling microscopy. Depending on annealing and adatom concentration, a global, long-range-ordered CDW ground state can be established. Angle-resolved UV photoemission data reveal the corresponding Fermi surface and its removal upon the Peierls transition. The CDW phase is stable to well above room temperature.     

DC Conductivity and Peierls instability in the quasi-one-dimensional organic charge density wave conductor (fluoranthene)2X

Due to the high anisotropy of the dc conductivity (σ_|/σ_⊥ ≈ 10⁴) the organic conductor (fluoranthene)₂X can be regarded as a model system for studying the Peierls instability in quasi-one-dimensional systems. The temperature dependence of the dc conductivity σ_| (T) along the highly conducting crystal axis exhibits the typical behaviour of a quasi-one-dimensional metal with a Peierls transition at about 180 K to a charge density wave (CDW) ground state. As expected for a highly one-dimensional conductor the exact transition temperature depends on three-dimensional coupling effects and therefore on the size of the counterion X^? = PF, AsF, SbF. Above the Peierls transition σ_| (T) can be described quantitatively within a model of CDW fluctuations leading to a pseudo gap in the electronic density of states. Below, the existence of a real energy gap at the Fermi level with a BCS-like temperature dependence determines the charge transport over more than eight orders of magnitude in the electrical resistance. For the intrinsic energy gaps 2 Δ (0), which characterize the ground state of the Peierls semiconductor, values of 120-180 meV have been found for different crystals.     

Charge density waves in layered compounds

The metallic layered compounds of the transition metal dichalcogenide type show unusual deviations from simple metallic behavior. These deviations are due to Charge Density Wave instabilities that are driven by the Fermi surface. The Charge Density Wave is a coupled periodic distortion of the conduction electron density and the crystal lattice. The effects of the CDW on the physical properties are qualitatively discussed. The basic driving forces of the CDW are most likely responsible for structural changes in a wide variety of materials, such as high temperature superconductors and long period superlattice alloys.     

Electro-reflectance spectra of blue bronze

We show that the infrared reflectance of the quasi-one dimensional charge-density-wave (CDW) conductor K_0.3MoO₃ (blue bronze) varies with position when a voltage greater than the CDW depinning threshold is applied. The spatial dependence and spectra associated with these changes are generally as expected from the electro-transmission [B.M. Emerling, et al., Eur. Phys. J. B 16, 295 (2000)], but there are differences which might be associated with changes in the CDW properties on the surface. We have examined the electro-reflectance spectrum associated with CDW current investigation for light polarized parallel to the conducting chains for signs of expected current-induced intragap states, and conclude that the density of any such states is at least an order of magnitude less than expected.Received: 23 June 2003, Published online: 2 October 2003PACS: 71.45.Lr Charge-density-wave systems - 78.20.Jq Electrooptical effects - 72.15.Nj Collective modes (e.g., in one-dimensional conductors)     

Charge-density waves and superlattices in the metallic layered transition metal dichalcogenides

The d1 layer metals TaS 2 , TaSe 2 , NbSe 2 , in all their various polytypic modifications, acquire, below some appropriate temperature, phase conditions that their electromagnetic properties have previously revealed as 'anomalous'. Our present electron-microscopic studies indicate that this anomalous behaviour usually included the adoption, at some stage, of a superlattice. The size of superlattice adopted often is forecast in the pattern of satellite spotting and strong diffuse scattering found above the transition. Our conclusions are that charge-density waves and their concomitant periodic structural distortions occur in all these 4d 1 /5d 1 dichalcogenides. We have related the observed periodicities of these CDW states to the theoretical form of the parent Fermi surfaces. Particularly for the 1T octahedrally coordinated polytypes the Fermi surface is very simple and markedly two-dimensional in character, with large near-parallel walls. Such a situation is known theoretically to favour the formation of charge and spin-density waves. When they first appear, the CDWs in the 1T (and 4Hb) polytypes are incommensurate with the lattice. This condition produes a fair amount of gapping in the density of states at the Fermi level. For the simplest case of 1T-TaSe 2 , the room temperature superlattice is realized when this existing CDW rotates into an orientation for which it then become commensurate. At this first-order transition the Fermi surface energy gapping increases beyond that generated by the incommensurate CDW, as is clearly evident in the electromagnetic properties. For the trigonal prismatically coordinated polytypes, CDW formation is withheld to low temperatures, probably because of the more complex band structures. This CDW state (in the cases measured) would seem at once commensurate, even though the transition is, from a wide variety of experiments, apparently second order. A wide range of doped and intercalated materials have been used to substantiate the presence of CDWs in these compounds, and to clarify the effect that their occurrence has on the physical properties. The observations further demonstrate the distinctiveness of the transition metal dichalcogenide layer compounds, and of the group VA metals in particular.     

Rigorous analysis of singularities and absence of analytic continuation at first-order phase-transition points in lattice-spin models

We report about two new rigorous results on the nonanalytic properties of thermodynamic potentials at first-order phase transition. For lattice models (d>or=2) with arbitrary finite state space, finite-range interactions which have two ground states, we prove that the pressure has no analytic continuation at the first-order phase-transition point, under the only further assumptions that the Peierls condition is satisfied for the ground states and that the temperature is sufficiently low. For Ising models with Kac potentials J(gamma)(x)=gamma(d)phi(gammax), where 00) and analyticity in the mean field limit (gamma SE pointing arrow 0).