Mechanism Discovered to Control Polarization.

• Position: FERROELECTRICITY

By applying light, University of Arkansas physicists Peng Chen and Laurent Bellaiche have discovered a surprising mechanism for controlling ferroelectric polarization in a deterministic manner.

The finding, made possible by the application of ultrafast laser pulses, enriches fundamental physics research by advancing an understanding of the interactions between light and matter. The research, published in Nature Communications, also is an important step toward the design and development of superior sensing and data storage in electronic devices.

Ferroelectric materials exhibit the ability to polarize spontaneously. Typically, researchers can manipulate and reverse this polarization by the application of an external electric field. Ultrafast interactions between light and matter are another promising route for controlling ferroelectric polarization but, until now, researchers have struggled to achieve a light-induced, deterministic control of such polarization.

The UA researchers discovered a so-called "squeezing...