Ultrafast Infrared Pulses Trigger Rapid 'Breathing' in Thin Films

By Quantum Server Networks

Ultrafast infrared light pulses in thin films

Researchers at Cornell University have unveiled an extraordinary phenomenon: by bombarding a synthetic thin film with ultrafast, low-frequency infrared light pulses, they induced atomic-scale "breathing," where the crystal lattice expands and contracts billions of times per second. This discovery—described in Physical Review Letters—could open the door to entirely new ways of controlling electronic, magnetic, and optical properties of materials at unprecedented speeds.

Breathing Crystals and Dynamic Strain

Traditional methods of tuning material properties often rely on applying mechanical strain during growth, permanently fixing the structure. In contrast, this study demonstrates that dynamic strain—short-lived but reversible distortions triggered by light—can unlock new states of matter. Co-lead researchers Jakob Gollwitzer and Jeffrey Kaaret, working under the guidance of Professors Nicole Benedek and Andrej Singer, used terahertz (THz) pulses to excite lattice vibrations known as phonons. Like pushing a child on a swing at the perfect rhythm, the light resonantly amplified atomic motion, driving the lattice to breathe at ultrafast timescales.

Why Lanthanum Aluminate?

The team chose lanthanum aluminate (LaAlO3), a relatively simple oxide thin film, precisely because of its lack of flashy properties. As Professor Benedek noted, "we wanted something simple," yet the material surprised researchers by exhibiting structural transformations more dramatic than expected. Synthesized by Professor Darrell Schlom using oxide molecular-beam epitaxy, the thin films revealed their secrets under a free-electron laser at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC).

Permanent Changes and New States of Matter

While the team expected only temporary strain, they observed something far more intriguing: the pulses induced permanent improvements in crystallinity. Boundaries between structural domains reorganized into a more ordered state, suggesting that ultrafast light can "heal" materials and improve their quality. This breakthrough points toward techniques for enhancing superconductors, magnetic materials, and even quantum devices.

Applications: From Superconductivity to Switching

By dynamically driving phonons with ultrafast light, researchers can potentially switch material properties—like conductivity or magnetism—on and off within trillionths of a second. This has vast implications for superconductivity research, ultrafast computing, and adaptive photonic devices. Moreover, the method could be generalized to other oxides, creating a versatile toolkit for engineering properties far beyond what static strain methods can achieve.

Broader Impact in Materials Science

This study exemplifies the power of combining theory, synthesis, and advanced characterization in materials research. By merging computational predictions with precise synthesis and high-powered lasers, the Cornell team demonstrated how ultrafast light–matter interactions can reshape the way we think about material design. The implications for energy-efficient devices, smart materials, and quantum technologies are profound, placing this research at the forefront of next-generation materials science.

📖 Original source: Phys.org – Ultrafast infrared light pulses trigger rapid 'breathing' in thin film

*This article on Quantum Server Networks was prepared with the assistance of AI technologies.*

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#infraredlight #thinfilms #ultrafastscience #materialsscience #phonons #terahertz #superconductivity #nanotechnology #optoelectronics #quantumservernetworks

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