@article{33349,
  keywords = {light, Lead titanate, Phase field models, Dielectric properties, Two phase flow, X ray scattering, Magnetic phenomena, Nano-scale periodicity, Non-equilibrium phasis, Photo-induced charge, Three-dimensional structure, Two-phase equilibria, Ultrafast light pulse, Coherent scattering},
  author = {V.A Stoica and N Laanait and C Dai and Z Hong and Y Yuan and Z Zhang and S Lei and M.R McCarter and Ajay K Yadav and A.R Damodaran and S Das and G.A Stone and J Karapetrova and D.A Walko and X Zhang and L.W Martin and Ramamoorthy Ramesh and L.-Q Chen and H Wen and V Gopalan and J.W Freeland},
  title = {Optical creation of a supercrystal with three-dimensional nanoscale periodicity},
  abstract = {Stimulation with ultrafast light pulses can realize and manipulate states of matter with emergent structural, electronic and magnetic phenomena. However, these non-equilibrium phases are often transient and the challenge is to stabilize them as persistent states. Here, we show that atomic-scale PbTiO 3 /SrTiO 3 superlattices, counterpoising strain and polarization states in alternate layers, are converted by sub-picosecond optical pulses to a supercrystal phase. This phase persists indefinitely under ambient conditions, has not been created via equilibrium routes, and can be erased by heating. X-ray scattering and microscopy show this unusual phase consists of a coherent three-dimensional structure with polar, strain and charge-ordering periodicities of up to 30 nm. By adjusting only dielectric properties, the phase-field model describes this emergent phase as a photo-induced charge-stabilized supercrystal formed from a two-phase equilibrium state. Our results demonstrate opportunities for light-activated pathways to thermally inaccessible and emergent metastable states. © 2019, This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply.},
  year = {2019},
  journal = {Nature Materials},
  volume = {18},
  number = {4},
  pages = {377-383},
  publisher = {Nature Publishing Group},
  issn = {14761122},
  doi = {10.1038/s41563-019-0311-x},
  note = {cited By 9},
  language = {eng},
}