Resolving length-scale-dependent transient disorder through an ultrafast phase transition.

Autor: Griffiths J; Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA. jgriffith@bnl.gov., Suzana AF; Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA., Wu L; Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA., Marks SD; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA., Esposito V; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA., Boutet S; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA., Evans PG; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA., Mitchell JF; Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, USA., Dean MPM; Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA., Keen DA; ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, UK., Robinson I; Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA.; London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK., Billinge SJL; Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA.; Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA., Bozin ES; Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science Division, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA. bozin@bnl.gov.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Nature materials [Nat Mater] 2024 Aug; Vol. 23 (8), pp. 1041-1047. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jun 13.
DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01927-8
Abstrakt: Material functionality can be strongly determined by structure extending only over nanoscale distances. The pair distribution function presents an opportunity for structural studies beyond idealized crystal models and to investigate structure over varying length scales. Applying this method with ultrafast time resolution has the potential to similarly disrupt the study of structural dynamics and phase transitions. Here we demonstrate such a measurement of CuIr 2 S 4 optically pumped from its low-temperature Ir-dimerized phase. Dimers are optically suppressed without spatial correlation, generating a structure whose level of disorder strongly depends on the length scale. The redevelopment of structural ordering over tens of picoseconds is directly tracked over both space and time as a transient state is approached. This measurement demonstrates the crucial role of local structure and disorder in non-equilibrium processes as well as the feasibility of accessing this information with state-of-the-art XFEL facilities.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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