Story perspectives

New Imaging Technique Reveals Atomic Movements at Trillionth of a Second

11/2/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In 2023, scientists introduced the variable shutter atomic pair distribution function (vsPDF) imaging technique with a shutter speed of one trillionth of a second.
The vsPDF method enables observation of dynamic disorder in materials, such as movement of atoms in response to temperature changes.
In a study on germanium telluride (GeTe), GeTe maintains its crystal structure while dynamic disorder increases with temperature, which could inform energy-material development including Mars rovers.

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Story summary

In 2023, scientists introduced the variable shutter atomic pair distribution function (vsPDF) imaging technique with a shutter speed of one trillionth of a second.
The vsPDF method enables observation of dynamic disorder in materials, such as movement of atoms in response to temperature changes.
In a study on germanium telluride (GeTe), GeTe maintains its crystal structure while dynamic disorder increases with temperature, which could inform energy-material development including Mars rovers.