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    Ultrafast Modulation of Electron-Phonon Couplings and Phonon-Mediated Superconductivity

    Yang Yang1,2, Da-Qiang Chen1,2, Xuan-De Bu1,2, Chao Lian1,3,*, and Sheng Meng1,2,3,†

    • *Contact author: chaolian@iphy.ac.cn
    • †Contact author: smeng@iphy.ac.cn

    Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 146902 – Published 1 October, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/pzpk-81tt

    Abstract

    Ultrafast modulation of electron-phonon couplings via laser excitation has been experimentally demonstrated, yet a clear microscopic understanding remains elusive. Here, we establish the first ab initio framework combining time-dependent density-functional theory, density-functional perturbation theory, and Migdal-Eliashberg theory to track electron-phonon couplings and superconductivity in prototypical phonon-mediated superconductor MgB2 under laser illumination. We find that near-infrared laser pulses induce charge transfer from boron σ to π orbitals, effectively renormalizing the electron-phonon couplings and boosting the superconducting critical temperature to ∼52  K. The simulated thermalized superconducting gaps match well with experimental measurements. We propose a generalizable route for ultrafast modulation of superconductivity in materials whose dominant electron-phonon coupling channel can be selectively addressed by light, with photoinduced changes in electronic coupling and screening playing a central role. This Letter offers fundamental insight into nonequilibrium optical control of electron-phonon interactions and superconductivity, and provides a predictive tool for studying photo-modulated electron-phonon coupling and macroscopically observable superconducting properties.

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