Ultrafast Photo-Carrier Dynamics and Coherent Phonon Excitations in Topological Dirac Semimetal Cd$_{\mathrm{3}}$As$_{\mathrm{2}}$

ORAL

Abstract

Three dimensional (3D) topological Dirac semimetal has attracted growing research interest owing to its intriguing quantum properties such as high bulk carrier mobility and quantum spin Hall effects. However, so far, the ultrafast dynamics of a typical 3D topological Dirac semimetal, Cd$_{\mathrm{3}}$As$_{\mathrm{2}}$, as well as its coherent phonon has not been thoroughly investigated. Here we report the ultrafast dynamics of Cd$_{\mathrm{3}}$As$_{\mathrm{2}}$ by using femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. Two distinct relaxation processes was observed, with the lifetimes (at 5 K) of 2.4 ps and 18.6 ps, respectively. Variable temperature experiment from 5 K to 295 K also reveals signatures of phase transitions. Furthermore, coherent optical (8.1 meV) and acoustic (0.036 THz) phonon modes were generated and detected, respectively, with signatures of hybrid-excitation of the two modes.

*the National Basic Research Program of China (2012CB821402), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11274372), and the External Cooperation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (GJHZ1403)

Authors

  • Fei Sun

    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Qiong Wu

    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Yanling Wu

    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Yichao Tian

    • Institute of Physics, CAS
    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Youguo Shi

    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Jimin Zhao

    • Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences