Ultrafast time-resolved x-ray scattering reveals diffusive charge order dynamics in La(2–x)Ba(x)CuO(4)

Charge order is universal among high-T(c) cuprates, but its relation to superconductivity is unclear. While static order competes with superconductivity, dynamic order may be favorable and even contribute to Cooper pairing. Using time-resolved resonant soft x-ray scattering at a free-electron laser, we show that the charge order in prototypical La(2−x)Ba(x)CuO(4) exhibits transverse fluctuations at picosecond time scales. These sub–millielectron volt excitations propagate by Brownian-like diffusion and have an energy scale remarkably close to the superconducting T(c). At sub–millielectron volt energy scales, the dynamics are governed by universal scaling laws defined by the propagation of topological defects. Our results show that charge order in La(2−x)Ba(x)CuO(4) exhibits dynamics favorable to the in-plane superconducting tunneling and establish time-resolved x-rays as a means to study excitations at energy scales inaccessible to conventional scattering techniques.