Photoinduced charge transfer renormalization in NiO

Lojewski, Tobias (author), Golež, Denis (author)

Photodoped states in strongly correlated charge-transfer insulators are characterized by d-d and d-p interactions and the resulting intertwined dynamics of charge excitations and local multiplets. Here, we use femtosecond x-ray absorption spectroscopy in combination with dynamical mean-field theory to disentangle these contributions in NiO. Upon resonant optical excitation across the charge-transfer gap, the Ni L$_3$ and O K absorption edges red-shift for >10 ps, which we associate with photoinduced changes in the screening environment. An additional signature below the Ni L$_3$ edge is identified for <1 ps, reflecting a transient nonthermal population of local many-body multiplets. We employ a nonthermal generalization of the multiplet ligand field theory and argue that this feature originates from d-d transitions. Overall, the photodoped state differs significantly from a chemically doped state. Our results demonstrate that x-ray spectroscopies are helpful in revealing excitation pathways in correlated materials.

• Language: English
• Keywords: condensed matter physics
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FMF - Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Author Accepted Manuscript
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 245120-1-245120-15
• Numbering: Vol. 110, iss. 24
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-165852
• UDC: 538.9
• ISSN on article: 2469-9950
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.110.245120
• COBISS.SI-ID: 218652163
• Publication date in RUL: 12.12.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Physical review
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 2469-9950
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2997348

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: fizika kondenzirane snovi