Lattice Vibrations probed by Higher Harmonic Spectroscopy
- Reiter
A new article in Nature Photonics by the Reiter group
Phonons, the vibrations in crystalline solids, play a crucial role in phenomena like electrical resistance and superconductivity. Understanding and measuring these vibrations in detail is important for advancements in materials science. Our colleagues in Tran Trung Luu's lab at the University of Hong Kong have developed a novel method to probe these lattice dynamics: Higher Harmonic Spectroscopy.
In this technique, a laser pulse excites the crystal, producing a signal that oscillates with the phonon frequency, allowing for the identification of phonon modes. This method is highly sensitive and free from background noise. By analyzing the time-dependent signal, the coupling strengths between the electronic and phononic systems can also be determined.
Our team contributed by providing a theoretical model to simulate these time dynamics, which showed excellent agreement with the experimental results. This new approach opens up possibilities for accurately measuring phonons and understanding their interactions, which is essential for future technological advancements.