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A Hidden Quantum Paraelectric Phase in SrTiO3 Induced by Terahertz Field

MPS-Authors
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Latini,  S.
Theory Group, Theory Department, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Max Planck Society;
Center for Free-Electron Laser Science;
Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark;

/persons/resource/persons252093

Shin,  D.
Department of Physics and Photon Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST);
Theory Group, Theory Department, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Max Planck Society;
Center for Free-Electron Laser Science;

/persons/resource/persons22028

Rubio,  A.
Theory Group, Theory Department, Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Max Planck Society;
Center for Free-Electron Laser Science;
Center for Computational Quantum Physics (CCQ), The Flatiron Institute;

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2412.20887.pdf
(Preprint), 9MB

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Citation

Li, W., Kim, H., Wang, X., Luo, J., Latini, S., Shin, D., et al. (2024). A Hidden Quantum Paraelectric Phase in SrTiO3 Induced by Terahertz Field.


Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-0010-5EC3-9
Abstract
Coherent manipulation of lattice vibrations using ultrafast light pulses enables access to nonequilibrium 'hidden' phases with designed functionalities in quantum materials. However, expanding the understanding of nonlinear light-phonon interaction mechanisms remains crucial for developing new strategies. Here, we report re-entrant ultrafast phase transitions in SrTiO3 driven by intense terahertz excitation. As the terahertz field increases, the system transitions from the quantum paraelectric (QPE) ground state to an intermediate ferroelectric phase, and then unexpectedly reverts to a QPE state above ~500 kV/cm. The latter hidden QPE phase exhibits distinct lattice dynamics compared to the initial phases, highlighting activated antiferrodistortive phonon modes. Aided by first-principles dynamical calculations, we identify the mechanism for these complex behaviors as a superposition of multiple coherently excited eigenstates of the polar soft mode. Our results reveal a previously uncharted quantum facet of SrTiO3 and open pathways for harnessing high-order excitations to engineer quantum materials in the ultrafast regime.