title: Incoherent topological defect recombination dynamics in TbTe3.
abstract: We study the incoherent recombination of topological defects created during a rapid quench of a charge-density-wave system through the electronic ordering transition. Using a specially devised three-pulse femtosecond optical spectroscopy technique we follow the evolution of the order parameter over a wide range of time scales. By careful consideration of thermal processes we can clearly identify intrinsic topological defect annihilation processes on a time scale ∼30  ps and find a possible signature of extrinsic defect-dominated relaxation dynamics occurring on longer time scales.
authors.affiliation: Complex Matter Department, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mertelj
authors.affiliation: Complex Matter Department, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kusar
authors.affiliation: Complex Matter Department, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Kabanov
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giraldo-Gallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA.
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: Complex Matter Department, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia and CENN Nanocentre, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mihailovic