Terahertz field–induced ferroelectricity in quantum paraelectric SrTiO 3
Abstract
Hidden phases are metastable collective states of matter that are typically not accessible on equilibrium phase diagrams. Nova et al. used infrared pulses to excite higher-frequency lattice modes that drive the crystal into a metastable ferroelectric phase, a phase that can persist for many hours. X. Li et al. used terahertz fields to drive the soft mode that moves the ions in the crystal into the positions they occupy in the new phase. The ferroelectric phase in this case was transient, lasting on the order of 10 picoseconds. Because these hidden phases can host exotic properties in otherwise conventional materials, the accessibility to and control of such hidden phases may broaden potential functionality and applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 14, 2019
- Source ID
- 10.1126/science.aaw4913
Entities
People
- Andrew M Rappe
- Edoardo Baldini
- Jiahao Zhang
- Jian Lu
- Keith A. Nelson
- Tian Qiu
- Xian Li
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Naval Research
- Swiss National Science Foundation
- United States Department of Energy
- University of Pennsylvania