Method for identifying and probing phase transitions in materials

US6465255B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Blaine W. Asay · Los Alamos, US
• Bryan Henson · Los Alamos, US
• Robert K. Sander · Salida, US
• Jeanne M. Robinson · Los Alamos, US
• Steven F. Son · Los Alamos, US
• Peter M. Dickson · Los Alamos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 28, 2000
• Grant date: Oct 15, 2002
• Expiry date: Jan 28, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N21/75
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention includes a method for identifying and probing phase transitions in materials. A polymorphic material capable of existing in at least one non-centrosymmetric phase is interrogated with a beam of laser light at a chosen wavelength and frequency. A phase transition is induced in the material while it is interrogated. The intensity of light scattered by the material and having a wavelength equal to one half the wavelength of the interrogating laser light is detected. If the phase transition results in the production of a non-centrosymmetric phase, the intensity of this scattered light increases; if the phase transition results in the disappearance of a non-centrosymmetric phase, the intensity of this scattered light decreases.