Ultrafast Hot Phonon Dynamics in MgB${}_2$ Driven by Anisotropic Electron-Phonon Coupling

Abstract

The zone-center $E_{2g}$ modes play a crucial role in MgB${}_2$, controlling the scattering mechanisms in the normal state as well the superconducting pairing. Here, we demonstrate via first-principles quantum-field theory calculations that, due to the anisotropic electron-phonon interaction, a $hot$-$phonon$ regime where the $E_{2g}$ phonons can achieve significantly larger effective populations than other modes, is triggered in MgB${}_2$ by the interaction with an ultra-short laser pulse. Spectral signatures of this scenario in ultrafast pump-probe Raman spectroscopy are discussed in detail, revealing also a fundamental role of nonadiabatic processes in the optical features of the $E_{2g}$ mode.

Article as accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters; 6 pages, 3 figures