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Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 057401 (2003) [4 pages]

Ultrafast Optical Switching to a Metallic State by Photoinduced Mott Transition in a Halogen-Bridged Nickel-Chain Compound

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S. Iwai1,2, M. Ono3, A. Maeda3, H. Matsuzaki3, H. Kishida3,4, H. Okamoto1,3,5, and Y. Tokura1,6
1Correlated Electron Research Center (CERC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8564, Japan
2Nanostructure and Material Property Group, PRESTO, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan
3Department of Advanced Materials Science, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa 277-8562
4Structural Ordering and Physical Properties Group, PRESTO, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan
5Structure and Transformation Group, PRESTO, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan
6Department of Applied Physics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

Received 5 August 2002; published 28 July 2003

We demonstrate the ultrafast photoinduced Mott transition from a charge transfer insulator to a metal in a halogen-bridged Ni-chain compound by pump-probe reflection spectroscopy. Upon the irradiation of a 130-femtosecond laser pulse, the spectral weight of the gap transition is transferred to the inner-gap region. When the photoexcitation density exceeds 0.1/Ni site, the Drude-like high-reflection band appears in the infrared region, signaling the formation of a metallic state. The photogeneration of the metallic state and the subsequent recovery to the original gapped state occur within a few picoseconds.

© 2003 The American Physical Society

URL:
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.057401
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.057401
PACS:
78.47.+p, 73.20.Mf, 78.55.Kz
 
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