2013, Rettig, L., Cortés, R., Jeevan, H.S., Gegenwart, P., Wolf, T., Fink, J., Bovensiepen, U.

Based on the results from femtosecond time-resolved photoemission, we compare three different methods for the determination of the electron–phonon coupling constant λ in Eu- and Ba-based 122 FeAs compounds. We find good agreement between all three methods, which reveal a small λ < 0.2. This makes simple electron–phonon-mediated superconductivity unlikely in these compounds.

2021, Windsor, Y.W., Zahn, D., Kamrla, R., Feldl, J., Seiler, H., Chiang, C.-T., Ramsteiner, M., Widdra, W., Ernstorfer, R., Rettig, L.

We use femtosecond electron diffraction to study ultrafast lattice dynamics in the highly correlated antiferromagnetic (AFM) semiconductor NiO. Using the scattering vector (Q) dependence of Bragg diffraction, we introduce Q-resolved effective temperatures describing the transient lattice. We identify a nonthermal lattice state with preferential displacement of O compared to Ni ions, which occurs within ∼0.3  ps and persists for 25 ps. We associate this with transient changes to the AFM exchange striction-induced lattice distortion, supported by the observation of a transient Q asymmetry of Friedel pairs. Our observation highlights the role of spin-lattice coupling in routes towards ultrafast control of spin order.