Two-Dimensional Terahertz Spectroscopy of Nonlinear Phononics in the Topological Insulator <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>MnBi</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mrow><mml:mi>Te</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mrow><mml:mn>4</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:msub></mml:mrow></mml:math>
T. G. H. Blank, K. A. Grishunin, К. А. Звездин, Ngo Trong Hai, Jong-Ching Wu, Shu Hsuan Su, J. C. A. Huang, А. К. Звездин, A. V. Kimel
Abstract
The interaction of a single-cycle terahertz electric field with the topological insulator MnBi_{2}Te_{4} triggers strongly anharmonic lattice dynamics, promoting fully coherent energy transfer between the otherwise noninteracting Raman-active E_{g} and infrared (IR)-active E_{u} phononic modes. Two-dimensional terahertz spectroscopy combined with modeling based on the classical equations of motion and symmetry analysis reveals the multistage process underlying the excitation of the Raman-active E_{g} phonon. In this nonlinear combined photophononic process, the terahertz electric field first prepares a coherent IR-active E_{u} phononic state and subsequently interacts with this state to efficiently excite the E_{g} phonon.