Pressure tuning of light-induced superconductivity in K₃C₆₀.

ABSTRACT: Optical excitation at terahertz frequencies has emerged as an effective means to dynamically manipulate complex materials. In the molecular solid K₃C₆₀, short mid-infrared pulses transform the high-temperature metal into a non-equilibrium state with the optical properties of a superconductor. Here we tune this effect with hydrostatic pressure and find that the superconducting-like features gradually disappear at around 0.3 GPa. Reduction with pressure underscores the similarity with the equilibrium superconducting phase of K₃C₆₀, in which a larger electronic bandwidth induced by pressure is also detrimental for pairing. Crucially, our observation excludes alternative interpretations based on a high-mobility metallic phase. The pressure dependence

SUBMITTER: Cantaluppi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6071848 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature