Posted on 07/05/2019 2:59:47 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Australian researchers describe the first observation of a native ferroelectric metal: a native metal with bistable and electrically switchable spontaneous polarization states—the hallmark of ferroelectricity. The study found coexistence of native metallicity and ferroelectricity in bulk crystalline tungsten ditelluride (WTe2) at room temperature. A van-der-Waals material that is both metallic and ferroelectric in its bulk crystalline form at room temperature has potential for nano-electronics applications.
The study represents the first example of a native metal with bistable and electrically switchable spontaneous polarization states—the hallmark of ferroelectricity.
"We found coexistence of native metallicity and ferroelectricity in bulk crystalline tungsten ditelluride (WTe2) at room temperature,"
Ferroelectricity can be considered an analogy to ferromagnetism. A ferromagnetic material displays permanent magnetism, and in layperson's terms, is simply, a 'magnet' with north and south pole. Ferroelectric material likewise displays an analogous electrical property called a permanent electric polarisation, which originates from electric dipoles consisting of equal, but oppositely charged ends or poles. In ferroelectric materials, these electric dipoles exist at the unit cell level and give rise to a non-vanishing permanent electric dipole moment.
This spontaneous electric dipole moment can be repeatedly transitioned between two or more equivalent states or directions upon application of an external electric field—a property utilised in numerous ferroelectric technologies, for example nano-electronic computer memory, RFID cards, medical ultrasound transducers, infrared cameras, submarine sonar, vibration and pressure sensors, and precision actuators.
Conventionally, ferroelectricity has been observed in materials that are insulating or semiconducting rather than metallic, because conduction electrons in metals screen-out the static internal fields arising from the dipole moment.
(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...
Where is the biggest deposits?
Wasn't that a power source on Star Trek?
Isn't Telluride a town in Colorado?
Scary, most of that made sense to me.
Thanks BenLurkin.
I’ve read that String Theory describes matter as discrete vibrations in extra dimensional space. I think they’re saying it’s a consequence of movement in dimensions that reside at the super subatomic scale. Struck me as incredible to even try to think about.
It's more of a philosophical, metaphysical approach to modeling reality. Other than the reprehensible Chuck Lorre's idealogical soapboxing, "The Big Bang Theory" was entertaining, regardless of the geek appeal that dragged me into the show. The Leonard and Sheldon characters are physicists, and Sheldon's academic specialty was M-theory/String theory -- the show had a physicist on the production team to make sure the trappings were legit.
That's why Friday night bowling leagues were created. A chance to get out and forget about the important stuff for a while.....
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