Identifying and controlling the order parameter for ultrafast photoinduced phase transitions in thermosalient materials

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 121; no. 46; p. e2408366121
• Main Authors: Ghasemlou, Saba, Li, Xinyue, Galimberti, Daria R., Nikitin, Timur, Fausto, Rui, Xu, Jialiang, Holleman, Steven, Rasing, Theo, Cuppen, Herma M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 12.11.2024
• Subjects: Actuators; Computer applications; Deformation effects; Molecular dynamics; Order parameters; Parameter identification; Phase transitions; Physical Sciences; Raman spectroscopy; Shape effects; Transition temperature; Transition temperatures; THz spectroscopy; phase transitions; molecular dynamics; molecular machines

The drastic shape deformation that accompanies the structural phase transition in thermosalient materials offers great potential for their applications as actuators and sensors. The microscopic origin of this fascinating effect has so far remained obscure, while for technological applications, it is...