Mid-infrared light decreases the changes of octahedral rotations in SrTiO3, allowing the material to change into a ferroelectric state by moving the central titanium ion either up or down. Experimentally, the group found that the fluctuations of specific rotational modes in the SrTiO3 lattice, which obstruct the formation of long-range ferroelectricity, were quickly reduced by the pulsed mid-infrared excitation.”Reference: “Quenched lattice variations in optically driven SrTiO3” by M. Fechner, M. Först, G. Orenstein, V. Krapivin, A. S. Disa, M. Buzzi, A. von Hoegen, G. de la Pena, Q. L. Nguyen, R. Mankowsky, M. Sander, H. Lemke, Y. Deng, M. Trigo and A. Cavalleri, 32 January 2024, Nature Materials.DOI: 10.1038/ s41563-023-01791-yThe research at the MPSD received monetary support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through the Cluster of Excellence CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter.
Mid-infrared light decreases the fluctuations of octahedral rotations in SrTiO3, enabling the product to change into a ferroelectric state by shifting the main titanium ion either up or down. Remarkably, in 2019 the Cavalleri group discovered that SrTiO3 changes into a ferroelectric when specific vibrations of the crystal lattice are excited by extreme pulses in the mid-infrared. Experimentally, the team found that the fluctuations of particular rotational modes in the SrTiO3 lattice, which obstruct the development of long-range ferroelectricity, were quickly minimized by the pulsed mid-infrared excitation.”Reference: “Quenched lattice variations in optically driven SrTiO3” by M. Fechner, M. Först, G. Orenstein, V. Krapivin, A. S. Disa, M. Buzzi, A. von Hoegen, G. de la Pena, Q. L. Nguyen, R. Mankowsky, M. Sander, H. Lemke, Y. Deng, M. Trigo and A. Cavalleri, 32 January 2024, Nature Materials.DOI: 10.1038/ s41563-023-01791-yThe research study at the MPSD received monetary support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft via the Cluster of Excellence CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter.