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Revealing ‘hidden’ phases of matter through the power of light

New research shows how materials can be imbued with new chemical properties using a solid phase transition method that relies on extremely fast pulses of light.
an abstract depiction of atoms moving inside a crystal structure
A new study reveals a “hidden” phase of strontium titanate. On the left, extremely fast pulses of light excites atoms within the crystal structure (red arrows), which shifts the material into a new, ferroelectric phase. Vibrations of other atoms then work to stabilize the hidden phase (right panels). (Image: Felice Macera)

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