Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have made a groundbreaking discovery: they have uncovered a new material phase by zapping a quantum material with a laser pulse. Led by Longlong Wu, Ian Robinson, Jack Griffiths, Emil Bozin, and Mark Dean, the team used the ultrafast Pair Distribution Function (PDF) to observe atomic movement as the sample was bombarded with laser pulses.
This technique allowed them to directly observe the quantum material transitioning to a new state that had not yet been identified. The discovery contributes to a years-long debate about what happens when certain quantum materials are excited by a laser, and it has significant implications for the development of commercial materials and superconductors. The DOE Office of Science supported the research and involved collaboration with the Center for Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven Lab and the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne.
Unlocking Hidden Phases of Quantum Materials with Ultrafast PDF
In a groundbreaking study, an international team of researchers has successfully demonstrated the power of ultrafast Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis in uncovering hidden phases of quantum materials. By zapping a quantum material with a laser pulse, the team observed a new, previously unidentified phase transition that had not been accessible through traditional equilibrium transitions.
The research, led by scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory, Columbia University, University of Wisconsin, Madison, DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory, and the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council, employed the Macromolecular Femtosecond Crystallography (MFX) beamlines at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) to achieve this feat.
A New Phase of Matter
By perturbing just a few atoms with a laser pulse, the researchers triggered a non-equilibrium transition in the quantum material. This local change propagated throughout the entire material, much like an earthquake on the ocean floor creates a wave that reaches the edge of the ocean. Using ultrafast PDF, the team directly observed the material transitioning to a new state that had not been identified before.
“This was like discovering a new, hidden phase of matter that is inaccessible during equilibrium transitions,” said Emil Bozin, a researcher involved in the study.
Transient Metastable State
The discovery contributes to a long-standing debate about what happens when certain quantum materials are excited by a laser. The results suggest that it’s not just a matter of heating the material, but rather the generation of a transient “metastable” intermediate state. Interestingly, the material remained disordered for tens of picoseconds, even though it started and ended in an ordered state.
Unlocking the Full Potential
The ultrafast PDF technique holds immense promise for uncovering hidden phases of quantum materials. The researchers plan to explore various forms of complex phase switches that occur in these materials, which can facilitate the development of commercial materials and answer fundamental physics questions.
“This is a vital sign that an undiscovered, fully stable material may be lying at a nearby composition,” said Ian Robinson, another researcher involved in the study.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
The success of this project highlights the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration. The researchers worked closely with experts from various institutions and facilities, including LCLS and the Advanced Photon Source.
“We didn’t just use the LCLS facilities at SLAC,” said Simon Billinge, a researcher involved in the study. “The people there were also integral to making ultrafast PDF a success.”
As the technique continues to evolve, the Brookhaven team is eager to optimize it, especially with the upcoming upgrade of LCLS to LCLS-II-HE, which will enable even higher resolution molecular movies.
“There is international interest in making this a routine and successful technique,” said Bozin. “And we are looking forward to being a part of it.”
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