Ultrafast light-induced Coherent Optical and Acoustic Phonons in few Quintuple Layers of Topological Insulators Bi2Te3

W. Weiss; K. Balin; R. Rapacz; A. Nowak; J. Szade; M. Lejman; P. Ruello

Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · 1501.07065

Ultrafast light-induced Coherent Optical and Acoustic Phonons in few Quintuple Layers of Topological Insulators Bi2Te3

W. Weiss·K. Balin·R. Rapacz·A. Nowak·J. Szade·M. Lejman·P. Ruello

View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Ultrafast lattice dynamics of few quintuple layers of topological insulator (TI) Bi$_2$Te$_3$ is studied with time-resolved optical pump-probe spectroscopy. Both optical and acoustic phonons are photogenerated and detected. Here, in order to get new insights on the out-of-equilibrium electron-phonon coupling and phonons dynamics in confined TI, different nanostructures have been investigated (single or polycrystalline QLs assemblies and nano-crystallized islands). Contrary to previous literature claims, we show that even for nanostructures containing only 10 quintuple layers (QLs), the symmetric A1g(I) coherent optical phonon is efficiently photogenerated and no restriction due to the structural confinement appears. We also observe that whatever the arrangement of the nanostructures, the A1g(I) optical phonon features are similar (lifetime). We also report the observation of confined coherent acoustic phonons propagating from QLs to QLs whose spectrum is, this time, very sensitive to the atomic arrangement. In the case of the single crystalline ultrathin film, the time of flight analysis of these acoustic phonons provides direct estimate of the elastic properties of these nanostructures as well as some estimates of Van der Waals interactions between QLs.

Explore related subjects

cond-mat.mtrl-sci

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

W. Weiss, K. Balin, R. Rapacz, A. Nowak, J. Szade, M. Lejman, P. Ruello. 2015-07-08. Ultrafast light-induced Coherent Optical and Acoustic Phonons in few Quintuple Layers of Topological Insulators Bi2Te3. https://arxiv.org/abs/1501.07065

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

Symmetry-induced magnetic fullerene

Defect-free, charge-neutral, pure-carbon materials are generally viewed as intrinsically non-magnetic. Here we challenge this view by establishing a fundamental principle of symmetry-induced magnetism in pure-carbon fullerene systems through molecular orbital theory. We show that high-order symmetry of fullerene molecules or their crystalline lattices induces degenerate energy levels and hence, quantised magnetic moments at half filling. This mechanism holds for all high-order symmetries. It suggests a plausible intrinsic origin for the previously debated magnetic fullerene. Additionally, recent experimental advances in the synthesis of monolayer fullerene networks provide a feasible platform to implement our prediction on the deep link between symmetry and magnetism in these systems. Our results create new, broad frontiers of quantum magnetism by introducing molecular or crystalline symmetries in any lattice.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Tritium for Nanoscale Hydrogen Analysis by Atom Probe Tomography

Accurate nanoscale detection of hydrogen is essential for understanding hydrogen-related phenomena in materials, yet conventional tracing with deuterium is often complicated by residual background hydrogen. This study evaluates tritium as a highly resolvable isotopic marker for nanoscale hydrogen analysis in metals using atom probe tomography. Titanium was selected for its ability to incorporate hydrogen isotopes, providing a suitable platform for tritium detection. Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and electron backscatter diffraction were performed prior to tritium charging to characterize the initial composition and microstructure. Atom probe tomography in laser mode before and after tritium charging, at three post-charging time intervals, enables tracking of tritium incorporation over time. Thermal desorption analysis confirmed the presence of tritium and complemented the secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements, highlighting the role of the surface oxide layer in modulating tritium release. While tritium, deuterium, and protium differ in their diffusion and trapping behavior, the distinct mass signal associated with tritium provides a practical advantage for resolving hydrogen at very low concentrations. This work serves as a fundamental benchmarking study for leveraging tritium and atom probe tomography as a combined tool for understanding hydrogen in materials, relevant for interpreting local processes such as hydrogen embrittlement.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2026

Interfacial melting as a thermodynamic indicator of solid-state synthesizability

Computational materials discovery commonly ranks candidate materials by their thermodynamic stability on the formation energy convex hull, yet many predicted-stable phases resist synthesis. We propose that solid-state synthesizability through interfacial-melt-mediated routes requires an additional thermodynamic condition: the interfacial melt at the target composition must itself remain locally stable against spinodal decomposition. We examine this in the classical Fe--B system, where thermodynamically stable FeB$_4$ has been reported under high-pressure synthesis but not in low-pressure synthesis attempts. Using melt--quench molecular dynamics driven by a fine-tuned machine-learning interatomic potential, we find that, at ambient pressure, the B-rich interfacial melt near the FeB$_4$ composition develops a concave free-energy landscape, signaling a demixing instability that is corroborated by the concentration--concentration structure factor and correlated with low-energy icosahedral and pentagonal-pyramidal boron motifs. In contrast to FeB$_4$, metastable Fe$_3$B and Fe$_{23}$B$_6$ remain synthesizable because their corresponding melts are stable. Applied pressure introduces a convex $PV$ contribution that strongly suppresses this instability, reducing the curvature at the FeB$_4$ composition to within the uncertainty of our fit at 1800~K, consistent with the experimental synthesis boundary. Comparison with CrB$_4$ further shows that weaker melt instability correlates with easier experimental synthesis. Interfacial-melt stability, which atomistic simulations can assess via the low-$k$ concentration--concentration structure factor, is thus proposed as a practical thermodynamic screening descriptor of synthesizability for AI-assisted materials discovery.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗