Capturing one-dimensional precursors of a photoinduced transformation in a material

Achieving control of photoinduced phase transitions requires understanding how materials work during transformation induced by a laser pulse. Here we investigate the precursors of a photoinduced phase transition in the highly cooperative charge-transfer molecular crystal tetrathiafulvalene-p-chloran...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 105; no. 24; p. 246101
Main Authors Guérin, Laurent, Hébert, Johan, Buron-Le Cointe, Marylise, Adachi, Shin-ichi, Koshihara, Shin-ya, Cailleau, Hervé, Collet, Eric
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 08.12.2010
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Achieving control of photoinduced phase transitions requires understanding how materials work during transformation induced by a laser pulse. Here we investigate the precursors of a photoinduced phase transition in the highly cooperative charge-transfer molecular crystal tetrathiafulvalene-p-chloranil and provide key insights. The photogeneration of one-dimensional nanoscale clusters was detected by time-resolved diffuse x-ray scattering with 50-ps time resolution. Such clustering of structurally relaxed electronic excitations is expected to be a common process in many materials presenting photoinduced transformations.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.105.246101