Unveiling Nanoscale Vibrations: Listening to Avalanches and Earthquakes in Crystals

Researchers from UNSW and the University of Cambridge have developed a new method for listening to nanoscale avalanches of atoms in crystals. The method, based on scanning probe microscopy (SPM) nanoindentation, allows for the study of crackling noise in individual nanoscale features of materials, such as domain walls in ferroelectrics. By imaging the material surface before indenting it, researchers can identify and study specific nanoscale features. This new technique provides insights into the behavior of materials at the nanoscale and has potential applications in various fields, including electronics and material science.