Optical Excitation of Coherent THz Dynamics of the Rare-Earth Lattice through Resonant Pumping of f-f Electronic Transition in a Complex Perovskite DyFeO3

Resonant pumping of the electronic 𝑓−𝑓 transitions in the orbital multiplet of dysprosium ions (Dy3+) in a complex perovskite DyFeO3 is shown to impulsively launch THz lattice dynamics corresponding to the 𝐵2⁢𝑔 phonon mode, which is dominanted by the motion of Dy3+ ions. The findings, supported by symmetry analysis and density-functional theory calculations, not only provide a novel route for highly selective excitation of the rare-earth crystal lattices but also establish important relationships between the symmetry of the electronic and lattice excitations in complex oxides.