Light-induced hexatic state in a layered quantum material.
Nat Mater
; 22(11): 1345-1351, 2023 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37414945
ABSTRACT
The tunability of materials properties by light promises a wealth of future applications in energy conversion and information technology. Strongly correlated materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides offer optical control of electronic phases, charge ordering and interlayer correlations by photodoping. Here, we find the emergence of a transient hexatic state during the laser-induced transformation between two charge-density wave phases in a thin-film transition metal dichalcogenide, 1T-type tantalum disulfide (1T-TaS2). Introducing tilt-series ultrafast nanobeam electron diffraction, we reconstruct charge-density wave rocking curves at high momentum resolution. An intermittent suppression of three-dimensional structural correlations promotes a loss of in-plane translational order caused by a high density of unbound topological defects, characteristic of a hexatic intermediate. Our results demonstrate the merit of tomographic ultrafast structural probing in tracing coupled order parameters, heralding universal nanoscale access to laser-induced dimensionality control in functional heterostructures and devices.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nat Mater
Assunto da revista:
CIENCIA
/
QUIMICA
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Alemanha