Inducing superconductivity by modifying crystal structures with light

Program Description

Mid-infrared optical pulses can dynamically modify the crystal lattice of solids by resonantly driving vibrational modes. This low-energy excitation has been used to drive insulator–metal transitions, melt electronic order and switch magnetism. Fascinatingly, a state strongly reminiscent of the equilibrium superconducting state can be induced in the high-Tc superconductor YBa2Cu3O6.5 up to room temperature. We gain substantial understanding of this transient state by combining mid-infrared excitation with x-ray diffraction techniques at the LCLS.