Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.03881 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1866917188374364160 |
|---|---|
| author | Wu, Jianyu Niedermayr, Arthur Cao, Gaolong Grånäs, Oscar Weissenrieder, Jonas |
| author_facet | Wu, Jianyu Niedermayr, Arthur Cao, Gaolong Grånäs, Oscar Weissenrieder, Jonas |
| contents | Microscopic and dynamic control over quantum states is essential for bridging fundamental studies of material properties to device function. Realizing such control at combined high spatial resolution and ultrafast temporal precision remains a major challenge. Here, we demonstrate femtosecond laser-driven patterning of topological quantum states in the Weyl semimetal WTe2. By engineering the excitation field into a transient optical grating, we spatially selectively and reversibly drive phase transitions between the topological Td and topologically trivial 1T* phases. Using ultrafast transmission electron microscopy, we directly visualize the formation of a periodic Td/1T* heterostructure, observe the propagation of a phase front, and analyze nanoscale confinement of coherently excited optical phonon modes. Our findings establish a platform for all-optical, spatially programmable, and reconfigurable control of quantum states, paving the way for optically addressable topological devices. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2601_03881 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Ultrafast laser-driven topological phase patterning Wu, Jianyu Niedermayr, Arthur Cao, Gaolong Grånäs, Oscar Weissenrieder, Jonas Materials Science Microscopic and dynamic control over quantum states is essential for bridging fundamental studies of material properties to device function. Realizing such control at combined high spatial resolution and ultrafast temporal precision remains a major challenge. Here, we demonstrate femtosecond laser-driven patterning of topological quantum states in the Weyl semimetal WTe2. By engineering the excitation field into a transient optical grating, we spatially selectively and reversibly drive phase transitions between the topological Td and topologically trivial 1T* phases. Using ultrafast transmission electron microscopy, we directly visualize the formation of a periodic Td/1T* heterostructure, observe the propagation of a phase front, and analyze nanoscale confinement of coherently excited optical phonon modes. Our findings establish a platform for all-optical, spatially programmable, and reconfigurable control of quantum states, paving the way for optically addressable topological devices. |
| title | Ultrafast laser-driven topological phase patterning |
| topic | Materials Science |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.03881 |