Abstract
We study THz-driven condensate dynamics in epitaxial thin films of MgB2, a prototype two-band superconductor (SC) with weak interband coupling. The temperature and excitation density dependent dynamics follow the behavior predicted by the phenomenological bottleneck model for the single-gap SC, implying adiabatic coupling between the two condensates on the ps timescale. The amplitude of the THz-driven suppression of condensate density reveals an unexpected decrease in pair-breaking efficiency with increasing temperature—unlike in the case of optical excitation. The reduced pair-breaking efficiency of narrow-band THz pulses, displaying minimum near ≈0.7  Tc, is attributed to THz-driven, long-lived, nonthermal quasiparticle distribution, resulting in Eliashberg-type enhancement of superconductivity, competing with pair breaking.
Funding Information
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (TRR 173-268565370, TRR 288-422213477)
  • Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (TRR 173-268565370, TRR 288-422213477)
  • Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung

This publication has 45 references indexed in Scilit: