Ultrafast spectroscopy of quasiparticle dynamics in cuprate superconductors

•This paper reviews recent ultrafast spectroscopic study on cuprates.•Dynamics related to pairing glues and phase separations are summarized.•Mid-IR pulses enhance the coherent transport in underdoped cuprates.•Pump-probe data on the quasiparticle dynamics in YBCO films are presented.

Ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy is a powerful tool to study the nonequilibrium dynamics in high-Tc cuprate superconductors. The photo-induced quasiparticle (QP) dynamics revealed by pump-probe spectroscopy are sensitive to the near-Fermi level electronic structures. Here we review several selected examples to illustrate the enduring challenges including pairing glue, phase separation, and phase transitions in cuprate superconductors. We also present the data obtained on thin films of YBa2Cu3O7−δ in connection to these issues.