Dynamical approach to realize room-temperature superconductivity in LaH10

Abstract Metallic hydrogen and hydride materials stand as promising avenues to achieve room-temperature superconductivity. Characterized by their high phonon frequencies and moderate coupling strengths, several high-pressure hydrides were theoretically predicted to exhibit transition temperatures ( T c ) exceeding 250 K, a claim further substantiated by experimental evidence. In an effort to push T c beyond room temperature, we introduce a dynamical method that involves stimulating hydrides with mid-infrared lasers. Employing Floquet first-principles simulations, we observe that in a nonequilibrium state induced by light, both the electronic density of states and the coupling to high-energy phonons see notable enhancements. These simultaneous improvements collectively could potentially result in an estimated 20%–30% rise in T c in practical pump conditions. Our theoretical investigation, therefore, offers a novel strategy to potentially raise the T c of hydrides above room temperature.