Pseudospin Dynamics of Charge Order

Abstract

Charge order is conventionally viewed as a static modulation of the electronic density, despite growing experimental capabilities to probe and manipulate its nonequilibrium evolution. In contrast to spin-ordered systems, a microscopic framework for charge-order dynamics and its control under external driving remains largely underdeveloped. Here, starting from an extended Hubbard model, we derive an effective pseudospin model in which the charge-ordered state maps onto staggered pseudospin order. The resulting charge-order dynamics is governed by Landau--Lifshitz--Gilbert-like equations for the pseudospins, closely analogous to those of a bipartite antiferromagnet. We show that an external electric field directly controls the staggered pseudospin order and, above a threshold field, drives coherent reversal of the charge-order polarity by destabilizing collective pseudospin excitations. Our results establish the charge pseudospin as a microscopic dynamical degree of freedom for coherent switching and control of charge order, providing a charge-sector analogue of the well-established framework for spin-order dynamics in spintronics.