Dynamics of Sr$_{14}$Cu$_{24}$O$_{41}$ in a transient high intensity THz field

Over the past few years new techniques have become available to generate electromagnetic radiation with high electric field values in the THz range [1], allowing the dynamic study of materials whose excitations lie in the far infrared frequency range. This is the case of many charge density wave compounds, which exhibit a collective response due to pinning. Sr$_{14}$Cu$_{24}$O$_{41}$ is a charge density wave compound of particular interest, given its quasi one-dimensional structure consisting of alternating layers of Cu$_{2}$O$_{3}$ chains and CuO$_2$ ladders [2]. Understanding the dynamics of Sr$_{14}$Cu$_{24}$O$_{41}$ excitations in the far infrared has the potential not only to shed light onto the complex nature of charge ordering in this material, but also to help provide a better understanding of the nature of superconducting behavior in two-dimensional high temperature superconducting cuprates. In our work, THz pulses generated using a LiNbO$_3$ crystal interact with single crystal Sr$_{14}$Cu$_{24}$O$_{41}$ samples grown by the traveling solvent floating zone method. We will present preliminary results of a high field THz study of the dynamics of Sr$_{14}$Cu$_{24}$O$_{41}$. [1] Jepsen et al., Laser Phot Rev 5 124 (2011) [2] Gorshunov et al., Phys Rev B 66 060508 (2002)