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Unified First-Principles Formula for Time-Resolved ARPES Spectra of Coherent and Incoherent Excitons beyond the Dilute Limit

Gianluca Stefanucci and Enrico Perfetto

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 026402 – Published 8 July, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/zhs1-rv1k

Abstract

Despite major experimental progresses in time-resolved and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, a quantitative, microscopic framework for interpreting exciton-induced modifications of electronic band structures—applicable even beyond the low-density limit—is still lacking. Here, we close this gap by introducing a unified approach that links the dynamics of coherent and incoherent excitons to distinct and experimentally observable excitonic sidebands. Our central result is a general, first-principles formula for time-resolved photoemission spectra, applicable across a broad range of temperatures, excitation densities, and pump-probe delays. This advance provides a predictive tool for quantitatively tracking excitonic dynamics in complex materials.

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 137, 026402– Published 8 July, 2026
  • Received 2 February 2026
  • Accepted 5 June 2026
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