Two-photon Photoemission Research Articles

Predicting nonequilibrium Green's function dynamics and photoemission spectra via nonlinear integral operator learning

Abstract Understanding the dynamics of nonequilibrium quantum many-body systems is an important research topic in a wide range of fields across condensed matter physics, quantum optics, and high-energy physics. However, numerical studies of large-scale nonequilibrium phenomena in realistic materials face serious challenges due to intrinsic high-dimensionality of quantum many-body problems and the absence of time-invariance. The nonequilibrium properties of many-body systems can be described by the dynamics of the correlator, or the Green's function of the system, whose time evolution is given by a high-dimensional system of integro-differential equations, known as the Kadanoff-Baym equations (KBEs). The time-convolution term in KBEs, which needs to be recalculated at each time step, makes it difficult to perform long-time numerical simulation. In this paper, we develop an operator-learning framework based on Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs) to address this challenge.
We utilize RNNs to learn the nonlinear mapping between Green's functions and convolution integrals in KBEs.
By using the learned operators as a surrogate model in the KBE solver, we obtain a general machine-learning scheme for predicting the dynamics of nonequilibrium Green's functions. Besides significant savings per each time step, the new methodology reduces the temporal computational complexity from $O(N_t^3)$ to $O(N_t)$ 
where $N_t$ is the number of steps taken in a simulation, thereby
making it possible to study large many-body problems which are currently infeasible with conventional KBE solvers. 
Through various numerical examples, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the operator-learning based approach in providing accurate predictions of physical observables such as the reduced density matrix and time-resolved photoemission spectra. 
Moreover, our framework exhibits clear numerical convergence and can be easily parallelized, thereby facilitating many possible further developments and applications.

Spatial-temporal imaging electronic dynamics in few-layer graphene

Abstract Revealing the ultrafast carrier dynamics with spatial, energy and time resolution is critical for achieving a comprehensive understanding of the ultrafast electronic dynamics of two-dimensional (2D) materials and heterostructures. Here, by time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy (Tr-PEEM) measurements, we reveal the layer-dependent ultrafast electronic dynamics of monolayer (1 ML), bilayer (2 ML), 4 ML graphene as well as bulk graphite. In contrast to 2 ML and thicker graphene, photo-excited electrons in 1 ML graphene relax much faster, which is attributed to the unique massless linear Dirac cone dispersion, allowing electrons to relax by continuously emitting phonons. Moreover, transient photoelectron redistribution shows an energy shift between 1 ML and 2 ML graphene, highlighting the critical role of the bandgap in 2 ML graphene on the carrier relaxation dynamics. Our work demonstrates the power of Tr-PEEM in revealing the ultrafast dynamics of 2D materials and heterostructures with spatial-temporal information, and provides information for the layer-dependent ultrafast relaxation dynamics in few-layer graphene.

Ultrafast optical induction of magnetic order at a quantum critical point

Time-resolved ultrafast spectroscopy has emerged as a promising tool to dynamically induce and manipulate non-trivial electronic states of matter out-of-equilibrium. Here we theoretically investigate light pulse driven dynamics in a Kondo lattice system close to quantum criticality. Based on a time-dependent auxiliary fermion mean-field calculation we show that light can dehybridize the local Kondo screening and induce oscillating magnetic order out of a previously paramagnetic state. Depending on the laser pulse field amplitude and frequency the Kondo singlet can be completely deconfined, inducing a dynamic Lifshitz transition that changes the Fermi surface topology. These phenomena can be identified in harmonic generation and time-resolved angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy spectra. Our results shed new light on non-equilibrium states in heavy fermion systems.

Real-Time Dyson-Expansion Scheme: Efficient Inclusion of Dynamical Correlations in Nonequilibrium Spectral Properties.

Time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy is the key technique to probe the real-time nonequilibrium dynamics of electronic states. Theoretical predictions of the time dependent spectral function for realistic systems is however, a challenge. Employing the Kadanoff-Baym equations to find this quantity results in a cubic scaling in the total number of time steps, quickly becoming prohibitive and often fail quantitatively and even qualitatively. In comparison, mean-field methods have more favorable numerical scaling both in the number of time steps and in the complexity associated with the cost of evolving for a single time step, however they miss key spectral properties such as emergent spectral features. Here we present a scheme that allows for the inclusion of dynamical correlations to the spectral function while maintaining the same scaling in the number of time steps as for mean-field approaches, while capturing the emergent physics. Further, the scheme can be efficiently implemented on top of equilibrium real-time many-body perturbation theory schemes and codes. We see excellent agreement with exact results for test systems. Furthermore, we exemplify the method on a periodic system and demonstrate clear evidence that our proposed scheme produces complex spectral features including excitonic band replicas, features that are not observed using static mean-field approaches.

Time-resolved ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy: Advancing the operando study of ALD chemistry

Today, atomic layer deposition (ALD) has become a firm corner stone of thin film deposition technology. The microelectronics industry, an early adopter of ALD, imposes stringent requirements on ALD to produce films with highly defined physical and chemical properties, which becomes even more important as device and component dimensions decrease. This, in turn, means that our understanding of the chemical processes underlying ALD needs to increase exponentially. Here, we show that one can use synchrotron-based time-resolved ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) to obtain highly detailed operando information on the surface chemistry of ALD, not only, as proven earlier, during the initial ALD cycles, but also for the steady-growth regime reached during the later stages of deposition. Using event averaging and Fourier-transform methods, we show that the ALD of TiO2 from titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and water precursors in the steady-growth regime follows the suggested ligand-exchange reaction mechanism, with no sign of oxygen transport between the deposited layers and the bulk of the film, as has been observed for other materials systems. Hence, the TiO2 ALD from TTIP and water constitutes a textbook example of metal oxide ALD, as expected for this well-known ALD process. The detailed insight is made possible by computerised control of the precursor pulses that enable the recording of long data sets, which comprise many ALD cycles at highly regular intervals, in combination with an advanced data analysis that allows us to pick out signals undetectable in the raw data. The analysis method also allows to separate oscillating contributions to the signals induced by the ALD pulsing from the overwhelming bulk signal.

Lifetime mapping using femtosecond time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy.

Time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) has established itself as a versatile experimental technique to unravel the ultrafast electron dynamics of materials with nanometer-scale resolution. However, the approach of performing PEEM-based, pixel-by-pixel lifetime mapping has not been reported thus far. Herein, we describe in detail the data pre-processing procedure and an algorithm to perform time-trace fittings of each pixel. We impose an energy cutoff for each pixel prior to spectral integration to enhance the robustness of our approach. With the energy cutoff, the energy-integrated time traces show improved statistics and lower fitting errors, thus resulting in a more accurate determination of the fit parameters, e.g., decay time constants. Our work allows us to reliably construct PEEM-based lifetime maps, which potentially shed light on the effects of local microenvironment on the ultrafast processes of the material and allow spatial distributions of lifetimes to be correlated with observables obtained from complementary microscopic techniques, hence enabling a more comprehensive characterization of the material.

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy at surfaces

Light is a preeminent spectroscopic tool for investigating the electronic structure of surfaces. Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy has mainly been developed in the last 30 years. It is therefore not surprising that the topic was hardly mentioned in the issue on “The first thirty years” of surface science. In the second thirty years, however, we have seen tremendous progress in the development of time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy on surfaces. Femtosecond light pulses and advanced photoelectron detection schemes are increasingly being used to study the electronic structure and dynamics of occupied and unoccupied electronic states and dynamic processes such as the energy and momentum relaxation of electrons, charge transfer at interfaces and collective processes such as plasmonic excitation and optical field screening. Using spin- and time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy, we were able to study ultrafast spin dynamics, electron–magnon scattering and spin structures in magnetic and topological materials. Light also provides photon energy as well as electric and magnetic fields that can influence molecular surface processes to steer surface photochemistry and hot-electron-driven catalysis. In addition, we can consider light as a chemical reagent that can alter the properties of matter by creating non-equilibrium states and ultrafast phase transitions in correlated materials through the coupling of electrons, phonons and spins. Electric fields have also been used to temporarily change the electronic structure. This opened up new methods and areas such as high harmonic generation, light wave electronics and attosecond physics. This overview certainly cannot cover all these interesting topics. But also as a testimony to the cohesion and constructive exchange in our ultrafast community, a number of colleagues have come together to share their expertise and views on the very vital field of dynamics at surfaces. Following the introduction, the interested reader will find a list of contributions and a brief summary in Section 1.3.

Photocatalyzed oxidation of water on oxygen pretreated rutile TiO2(110)

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the bottleneck in the overall photocatalytic splitting of water. The active sites (terminal titanium or bridging oxygen) and active species (molecular or dissociative water) of the initial step of the photocatalyzed OER on the prototypical photocatalyst TiO2, remain debatable. Herein, the photocatalytic chemistry of monolayer water on oxygen-pretreated TiO2(110) (o-TiO2(110)) and reduced TiO2(110) (r-TiO2(110)) surfaces initiated by 400 nm light illumination was investigated by time-dependent two-photon photoemission spectroscopy (TD-2PPE). The photoinduced reduction of the H2O/o-TiO2(110) interface rather than the H2O/r-TiO2(110) interface was detected by TD-2PPE. The difference in 2PPE originated from the presence of the terminal hydroxyl anions (OHt¯) on H2O/o-TiO2(110), as identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature-programmed desorption. Therefore, the evolution of the electronic structure of H2O/o-TiO2(110) was attributed to the photocatalyzed oxidation of the terminal hydroxyl anions, which most likely formed gaseous •OH radicals, reducing the interface. This work suggested that the oxidation of hydroxyl anions on top of the terminal titanium ions on TiO2, which were excluded previously in solution, need to be considered in the mechanistic studies of the photocatalyzed OER.

Sub-20-fs UV-XUV beamline for ultrafast molecular spectroscopy

We present an ultraviolet (UV) - extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) pump-probe beamline with applications in ultrafast time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. The UV pump pulses, tuneable between 255 and 285 nm and with µJ-level energy, are generated by frequency up-conversion between ultrashort visible/infrared pulses and visible narrow-band pulses. Few-femtosecond XUV probe pulses are produced by a high-order harmonic generation source equipped with a state-of-the-art time-delay compensated monochromator. Two-colour UV-XUV sidebands are used for a complete in situ temporal characterization of the pulses, demonstrating a temporal resolution of better than 20 fs. We validate the performances of the beamline through a UV-XUV pump-probe measurement on 1,3-cyclohexadiene, resolving the ultrashort dynamics of the first conical intersection. This instrument opens exciting possibilities for investigating ultrafast UV-induced dynamics of organic molecules in ultrashort time scales.

Insights into Ultrafast Relaxation Dynamics of Electronically Excited Furfural and 5-Methylfurfural.

The ultrafast relaxation dynamics of furfural and 5-methylfurfural following excitation in the ultraviolet range is investigated using the femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy method. Specifically, the pump wavelength-dependent decay dynamics of electronically excited furfural and 5-methylfurfural is discussed on the basis of a detailed analysis of our measured time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy spectra. Irradiation at all pump wavelengths prepares both furfural and 5-methylfurfural molecules with different vibrational levels in the first optically bright S2 (1ππ*) state, the lifetime of which is measured to be at least hundreds of femtoseconds. Besides the prominent deactivation channels of ring-opening and ring-puckering pathways for the S2(1ππ*) state, we propose that there is a minor decay channel of internal conversion from the initially prepared S2(1ππ*) state to the S1(1nπ*) state. The wavepacket decays out of the Franck-Condon region on the S2(1ππ*) state potential energy surface and bifurcates into different parts somewhere. A small fraction of the wavepacket funnels down to the S1(1nπ*) state via internal conversion. The subsequently populated S1(1nπ*) state contains large vibrational excess energy and decays over a lifetime of 2.5-2.8 ps. One of the deactivation channels of the S1(1nπ*) state is intersystem crossing to the 3ππ* triplet state. In addition, methyl substitution effects on the excited-state dynamics of furfural are also discussed. This experimental study provides new insights into the excitation energy-dependent decay dynamics of photoexcited furfural and 5-methylfurfural.

Novel Quantum States of Exciton-Floquet Composites: Electron-Hole Entanglement and Information.

Coulomb exchange between distinct electron-hole modes, i.e., exciton and Floquet states, in two-dimensional semiconductors is explored. Coherent ultrafast mixing of the exciton and Floquet states under weak optical pumping is investigated through a theoretical description of time-resolved and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (tr-ARPES) in an extended Haldane model that includes the electron-hole Coulomb interaction. Two branches of novel quantum states are found in the form of bosonic exciton-Floquet composites, which result from exchange coupling due to the Coulomb interaction. Furthermore, tr-ARPES could be directly employed for the density matrix element of the biparticle subsystem of photoelectron and hole, and electron-hole entanglement and information could be further explored. This finding suggests a unique platform to study the buildup and dephasing of novel exciton-Floquet composites and to resolve the information carried by them, which would enable the pursuit of new reconfigurable devices based on two-dimensional semiconductors.

Luminescent color modulation of Zn/BaAl2O4:0.2%Eu phosphors for LED application

Spinel-type aluminate (ZnAl2O4) doped with europium (Eu) ions has garnered considerable attention in the field of luminescence. This study explores a series of Zn/BaAl2O4:0.2%Eu phosphors (x = 0∼0.25, x is for the mole fraction of BaAl2O4), fabricated through a high temperature solid-phase reaction method in air or reduction environment. In the case of phosphors synthesized in air, the photoluminescence emission (PL) spectra show a series of sharp emission peaks at 570 nm, 589 nm, 620 nm, 660 nm, and 710 nm, which are generated by the 5D0-7FJ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) level transitions in Eu3+. Time-resolved photoluminescence and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characteristics also validate the presence of Eu3+ in samples synthesized in air. An intriguing observation is the abnormally strong emission peak at 570 nm under 346 nm excitation, originating from the Eu3+5D0-7F0 level transition. For x = 0.15, the corresponding CIE color coordinate is (0.3246, 0.3449), suggesting its potential application as a mono-doped and uni-matrix white phosphor. On the other hand, phosphors synthesized in reduction environment exhibit PL spectra with a wide emission band spanning from 400 nm to 550 nm, resulting from the electric-dipole-allowed transition of f-d state of Eu2+. The partial substitution of Zn2+ with Ba2+ significantly enhances the Eu2+ luminescence intensity. Moreover, an elevation of the mole fraction of Zn/BaAl2O4:0.2%Eu leads to a notable redshift (450 nm→500 nm) in the emission peaks of Eu2+ caused by lattice expansion, providing the adjustability of emitting color.

Investigation on the vibrational relaxation and ultrafast electronic dynamics of S1 state in 2,4-difluoroanisole.

Intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) has a profound impact on dynamic processes. We have studied two types of IVR processes, restricted and dissipative, and ultrafast dynamics of the S1 state of 2,4-difluoroanisole using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. The restricted IVR occurs in the intermediate regime of 219cm-1 vibrational level, and the dissipative IVR occurs in the statistical regime of 1200cm-1. The lifetimes of IVR processes are measured to be 90 and 11ps, respectively, depending on the internal energies of the S1 state and differ by a factor of eight. Similar subsequent dynamics were observed at two vibrational levels in the S1 state. The population undergoes IVR following the initial excitation and subsequently leaks into a triplet state, accompanied by intersystem crossing within ∼400ps followed by a slower nonradiative relaxation of the triplet state on the nanosecond time scale. Furthermore, the values of 3s and 3px Rydberg states of 2,4-difluoroanisole were experimentally determined to be 5.02 and 6.28eV.

Time-resolved Auger-Meitner spectroscopy of the photodissociation dynamics of CS2

Abstract The photodissociation dynamics of UV excited CS2 are investigated using time-resolved Auger-Meitner spectroscopy. Auger-Meitner decay is initiated by inner-shell ionisation with a femtosecond duration X-ray (179.9 eV) probe generated by the FERMI free electron laser. The time-delayed X-ray probe removes an electron from the S(2p) orbital leading to secondary emission of a high energy electron through Auger-Meitner decay. We monitor the electron kinetic energy of the Auger-Meitner emission as a function of pump-probe delay and observe time-dependent changes in the spectrum that correlate with the formation of bound, excited-state CS2 molecules at early times, and CS + S fragments on the picosecond timescale. The results are analysed based on a simplified kinetic scheme that provides a time constant for dissociation of approximately 1.2 ps, in agreement with previous time-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements (Gabalski, et al. J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2023, 14, 7126–7133).

Optical design of the time-resolved ARPES beamline of the new material spectroscopy experimental station for the update of CAEP THz-FEL facility

Abstract The Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics Terahertz Free Electron Laser Facility (CAEP THz FEL, CTFEL) is the only high-average power free electron laser terahertz source based on superconducting accelerators in China. The update of the CTFEL is now undergoing and will expand the frequency range from 0.1-4.2 THz to 0.1-125 THz. Two experimental stations for material spectroscopy and biomedicine will be built. A high harmonic generation (HHG) lightsource based beamline at the material spectroscopy experimental station for time-resolved angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) research will be constructed and the optical design is presented. The HHG lightsource covers the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) photon energy range of 20-50 eV. A Czerny-Turner monochromator with two plane gratings worked in conical diffraction configuration is employed for maintaining the transmission efficiency and preserving the pulse time duration. The calculated beamline transmission efficiency is better than 5% in the whole photon energy range. To our knowledge, this is the first time in China to combine THz-infrared FEL with HHG light source, and this experimental station will be a powerful and effective instrument and give new research opportunities in the future for users doing research on dynamic evolution of excited electron band structure of material surface.

Deuterium Isotope Effect on Internal Conversion of Ethylene Studied by Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

The effect of deuterium isotopes on the internal conversion of ethylene is studied by using extreme ultraviolet time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. For deuterium-labeled ethylene, the time scale for ultrafast internal conversion is increased by a factor of approximately √2, in agreement with the results of ab initio multiple spawning calculations, indicating the essential role played by hydrogen motion in the conversion process. Following internal conversion, a metastable species with an electron binding energy of ∼9 eV is produced, and it decays with a time constant similar to that for both isotopologues.

Modulation of Electrostatic Potential in 2D Crystal Engineered by an Array of Alternating Polar Molecules.

The moiré potential in rotationally misfit two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures has been used to build artificial exciton and electron lattices, which have become platforms for realizing exotic electronic phases. Here, we demonstrate a different approach to create a superlattice potential in 2D crystals by using the near field of an array of polar molecules. A bilayer of titanyl phthalocyanine (TiOPc), consisting of alternating out-of-plane dipoles, is deposited on monolayer MoS2. Time-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy reveals a pair of interlayer exciton states with an energy difference of ∼0.1 eV, which is consistent with the electrostatic potential modulation induced by the TiOPc bilayer as determined by density functional theory calculations. Because the symmetry and the period of this potential superlattice can be changed readily by using molecules of different shapes and sizes, molecule/2D heterostructures can be promising platforms for designing artificial exciton and electron lattices.

Distinguishing surface and bulk electromagnetism via their dynamics in an intrinsic magnetic topological insulator.

The indirect exchange interaction between local magnetic moments via surface electrons has been long predicted to bolster the surface ferromagnetism in magnetic topological insulators (MTIs), which facilitates the quantum anomalous Hall effect. This unconventional effect is critical to determining the operating temperatures of future topotronic devices. However, the experimental confirmation of this mechanism remains elusive, especially in intrinsic MTIs. Here, we combine time-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements to elucidate the unique electromagnetism at the surface of an intrinsic MTI MnBi2Te4. Theoretical modeling based on 2D Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interactions captures the initial quenching of a surface-rooted exchange gap within a factor of two but overestimates the bulk demagnetization by one order of magnitude. This mechanism directly explains the sizable gap in the quasi-2D electronic state and the nonzero residual magnetization in even-layer MnBi2Te4. Furthermore, it leads to efficient light-induced demagnetization comparable to state-of-the-art magnetophotonic crystals, promising an effective manipulation of magnetism and topological orders for future topotronics.

Ultrafast Electron-Transfer Via Hybrid States at Perovskite/Fullerene Interface.

Interfacial charge-transfer between perovskite and charge-transport layers plays a key role in determining performance of perovskite solar cells. The conventional viewpoint emphases the necessity of favorable energy-level alignment of the two components. In recent reports, efficient electron-transfer is observed from perovskite to fullerene-based electron-transport layers even when there are unfavorable energy-level alignments, but the mechanism is still unclear. Here, using an ultrafast in situ two-photon photoelectron spectroscopy, real-time observations of electron-transfer processes at CsPbI3/C60 interface in both temporal and energetic dimensions are reported. Due to strong electronic coupling, a large amount of interfacial hybrid states is generated at the interfaces, aiding fast photoinduced electron-transfer in ≈124fs. This process is further verified by nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations and transient absorption experiments. The short timescale explains why electron-transfer can overcome unfavorable energy-level alignments, providing a guideline for device design.

Acoustic phonon excitation in gold probed by time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy.

Electron-phonon coupling is an important energy transfer mechanism in solids after ultrafast laser excitation. In this study, we present an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and infrared (IR) pump-probe photoemission experiment to investigate the electron-phonon coupling in nonequilibrium gold. The energy of IR-laser-emitted photoelectrons is shifted due to the EUV photoemission and oscillates with a ∼4THz frequency. Such oscillation is considered as the effective excitation of the longitudinal acoustic phonon mode in gold through the spectral-dependent electron-phonon coupling. Our study showcases the capability of time-resolved photoemission electron microscopy to monitor the non-equilibrium lattice vibrations with ultrahigh spatial and temporal resolution.