Optical creation of a supercrystal with three-dimensional nanoscale periodicity
Publication Type | Journal Article
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Authors | |
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DOI |
10.1038/s41563-019-0311-x
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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.
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Notes |
cited By 9
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Journal |
Nature Materials
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Volume |
18
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Year of Publication |
2019
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Number |
4
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Pagination |
377-383
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Publisher |
Nature Publishing Group
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ISSN Number |
14761122
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Keywords | |
Research Areas | |
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