X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy of photoinduced ferroic superstructures(Conference Presentation)

Complex oxides and strongly correlated electron systems are at the forefront of science due to their exquisite potential for optical, spintronic, transducing/actuating, multiferroic, electrochemical, and superconducting property enhancements. Accordingly, at the nanoscale, engineering of complex oxide compounds is a promising route for discovery of novel quantum functionalities in a vast space of synthesis technique, calling for high-resolution control and visualization of physical properties and their structural basis. The advent of optical pulse techniques and related instrumentation advances is used to access dynamical separation of correlated orders that hide at equilibrium and also to create novel phases, not available via mainstream synthesis techniques. In this this talk, I will discuss resonant and non-resonant spectroscopic manipulation of phase transitions in nanoferroic oxides, focusing on ultrafast optical creation of artificial supercrystals in epitaxial superlattices. While table top nonlinear optical techniques are used to access the ferroic properties, synchrotron based time-resolved structural techniques, including diffraction and spectroscopy are decisive tools for revealing the nature of orderings in superstructures, their symmetries, phase quantification and spatial distribution with sub-micron resolution.