Elbert E. M. Chia

Probing the superconducting gap symmetry of PrOs4Sb12: a penetration depth study.

We report measurements of the magnetic penetration depth lambda in single crystals of PrOs4Sb12 down to 0.1 K, with the ac field applied along the a, b, and c directions. In all three field orientations, lambda approximately T2 and superfluid density rho(s) approximately T2 for T<0.3T(c). Data are best fit by the 3He A-phase-like gap with multidomains, each having two point nodes along a cube axis, and parameter Delta(0)(0)/k(B)T(c)=2.6, suggesting that PrOs4Sb12 is a strong-coupling superconductor with two point nodes on the Fermi surface. We also confirm the double transitions at 1.75 and 1.85 K seen in other measurements.

Elucidating the role of disorder and free-carrier recombination kinetics in CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite films.

Apart from broadband absorption of solar radiation, the performance of photovoltaic devices is governed by the density and mobility of photogenerated charge carriers. The latter parameters indicate how many free carriers move away from their origin, and how fast, before loss mechanisms such as carrier recombination occur. However, only lower bounds of these parameters are usually obtained. Here we independently determine both density and mobility of charge carriers in a perovskite film by the use of time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy. Our data reveal the modification of the free carrier response by strong backscattering expected from these heavily disordered perovskite films. The results for different phases and different temperatures show a change of kinetics from two-body recombination at room temperature to three-body recombination at low temperatures. Our results suggest that perovskite-based solar cells can perform well even at low temperatures as long as the three-body recombination has not become predominant.

Graphene Terahertz Modulators by Ionic Liquid Gating

Graphene based THz modulators are promising due to the conical band structure and high carrier mobility of graphene. Here, we tune the Fermi level of graphene via electrical gating with the help of ionic liquid to control the THz transmittance. It is found that, in the THz range, both the absorbance and reflectance of the device increase proportionately to the available density of states due to intraband transitions. Compact, stable, and repeatable THz transmittance modulation up to 93% (or 99%) for a single (or stacked) device has been demonstrated in a broad frequency range from 0.1 to 2.5 THz, with an applied voltage of only 3 V at room temperature.

Polaronic transport and magnetism in Ag-doped ZnO

Magnetic polarons have been proposed to play important roles in doped wide band gap oxides that exhibit weak room temperature ferromagnetism. Here, we report the experimental evidence supporting polaronic magnetism and transport in Ag-doped ZnO. Temperature dependent resistivity data suggest the conduction mechanism of Mott and Efros variable range hopping. The observed weak ferromagnetism and its temperature dependence are explained using the percolation-based model of partially ordered bound magnetic polarons.

Terahertz Conductivity of Twisted Bilayer Graphene

Using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, the real part of optical conductivity [σ(1)(ω)] of twisted bilayer graphene was obtained at different temperatures (10-300 K) in the frequency range 0.3-3 THz. On top of a Drude-like response, we see a strong peak in σ(1)(ω) at ~2.7 THz. We analyze the overall Drude-like response using a disorder-dependent (unitary scattering) model, then attribute the peak at 2.7 THz to an enhanced density of states at that energy, which is caused by the presence of a van Hove singularity arising from a commensurate twisting of the two graphene layers.

Phonon Mode Transformation Across the Orthohombic–Tetragonal Phase Transition in a Lead Iodide Perovskite CH3NH3PbI3: A Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy Approach

We study the temperature-dependent phonon modes of the organometallic lead iodide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 thin film across the terahertz (0.5-3 THz) and temperature (20-300 K) ranges. These modes are related to the vibration of the Pb-I bonds. We found that two phonon modes in the tetragonal phase at room temperature split into four modes in the low-temperature orthorhombic phase. By use of the Lorentz model fitting, we analyze the critical behavior of this phase transition. The carrier mobility values calculated from the low-temperature phonon mode frequencies, via two theoretical approaches, are found to agree reasonably with the experimental value (∼2000 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1)) from a previous time-resolved THz spectroscopy work. Thus, we have established a possible link between terahertz phonon modes and the transport properties of perovskite-based solar cells.

Terahertz conductivity of topological surface states in Bi 1.5 Sb 0.5 Te 1.8 Se 1.2

Topological insulators are electronic materials with an insulating bulk and conducting surface. However, due to free carriers in the bulk, the properties of the metallic surface are difficult to detect and characterize in most topological insulator materials. Recently, a new topological insulator Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.7Se1.3 (BSTS) was found, showing high bulk resistivities of 1–10 Ω.cm and greater contrast between the bulk and surface resistivities compared to other Bi-based topological insulators. Using Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS), we present complex conductivity of BSTS single crystals, disentangling the surface and bulk contributions. We find that the Drude spectral weight is 1–2 orders of magnitude smaller than in other Bi-based topological insulators, and similar to that of Bi2Se3 thin films, suggesting a significant contribution of the topological surface states to the conductivity of the BSTS sample. Moreover, an impurity band is present about 30 meV below the Fermi level, and the surface and bulk carrier densities agree with those obtained from transport data. Furthermore, from the surface Drude contribution, we obtain a ~98% transmission through one surface layer — this is consistent with the transmission through single-layer or bilayer graphene, which shares a common Dirac-cone feature in the band structure.

Observation of competing order in a high-Tc superconductor using femtosecond optical pulses.

We present studies of the photoexcited quasiparticle dynamics in Tl(2)Ba(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(y) (Tl-2223) using femtosecond optical techniques. Deep into the superconducting state (below 40 K), a dramatic change occurs in the temporal dynamics associated with photoexcited quasiparticles rejoining the condensate. This is suggestive of entry into a coexistence phase which, as our analysis reveals, opens a gap in the density of states (in addition to the superconducting gap), and furthermore, competes with superconductivity resulting in a depression of the superconducting gap.

Nonlocality and strong coupling in the heavy fermion superconductor CeCoIn5: A penetration depth study

We report measurements of the magnetic penetration depth

Ultrafast carrier dynamics in pristine and FeCl3-intercalated bilayer graphene

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