Dynamics of photoexcited states in one-dimensional dimerized Mott insulators

Abstract

Dynamical properties of photoexcited states are theoretically studied in a one-dimensional Mott insulator dimerized by the spin-Peierls instability. Numerical calculations combined with a perturbative analysis have revealed that the lowest photoexcited state without nearest-neighbor interaction corresponds to an interdimer charge transfer excitation that belongs to dispersive excitations. This excited state destabilizes the dimerized phase, leading to a photoinduced inverse spin-Peierls transition. We discuss the purely electronic origin of midgap states that are observed in a latest photoexcitation experiment of an organic spin-Peierls compound, K-TCNQ (potassium-tetracyanoquinodimethane).