Possible photo-induced superconductivity in under-doped infinite-layer nickelate thin films

We observed in our capped Nd0.95Sr0.05NiO2 thin films a photo-induced resistance downturn. We plan to perform resonant inelastic X-ray scattering experiments at the Ni-L3 edge under UV light, to discriminate interfacial effects from the ‘pure’ multiorbital nature of the electronic structure of infinite-layer nickelates. The idea is to use both -0.6 eV energy-loss spectral feature and magnons properties (energy and damping), as an indirect proxy to the possible superconducting state of the system under UV illumination. According to our experience on the system we can expect under UV an intensity decreases and smearing out of those features. In this way, we will demonstrate that a superconducting state can be stabilized in infinite-layer nickelate thin films, as a result of photo-induced modification of the charges in the two-orbital-channels describing the superconductivity in this system, hence, excluding a priori interfacial effects.