Magnetite Switching Diagram (IMAGE)

DOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

Magnetite Switching Diagram

Caption

In its insulating state, the magnetite sample has electrical charges locked into structures known as "trimerons" that are composed of three iron atoms (a). An optical laser pulse was used to fracture trimerons (b), creating strands of electrical conductivity (red) surrounding islands of non-conducting trimeron structures (c).

Credit

S. de Jong et al./<i>Nature Materials</i>

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