Enhanced coherent oscillations in the superconducting state of underdoped YB a2 C u3 O6+x induced via ultrafast terahertz excitation

Abstract

We utilize intense, single-cycle terahertz pulses to induce collective excitations in the charge-density-wave-ordered underdoped cuprate YBa2Cu3O6+x. These excitations manifest themselves as pronounced coherent oscillations of the optical reflectivity in the transient state, accompanied by minimal incoherent quasiparticle relaxation dynamics. The oscillations occur at frequencies consistent with soft phonon energies associated with the charge-density-wave, but vanish above the superconducting transition temperature rather than that at the charge-density-wave transition. These results indicate an intimate relationship of the terahertz excitation with the underlying charge-density-wave and the superconducting condensate itself.