Known as “pair-density waves,” it may be key to understanding how superconductivity can exist at relatively high temperatures.

Just as pressing a guitar string produces a higher pitch, sending laser light through a material can shift it to higher energies and higher frequencies. Now scientists have discovered how to use this phenomenon to explore quantum materials in a new and much more detailed way.

Theory suggests that quantum critical points may be analogous to black holes as places where all sorts of strange phenomena can exist in a quantum material. Now scientists are trying to pin down where this particular quantum critical point might be.

New research could offer insights into the formation of planets like Earth and inform the design of more resilient materials.