AI Summary

Researchers demonstrated that precisely timed pairs of ultrashort laser pulses can amplify the motion of atomic layers in a quantum material. The light first excites electrons, altering their energy and dynamics, which then exert forces on the atomic nuclei and set the atoms in motion. These structural changes occur on femtosecond timescales, a millionth of a billionth of a second. By coordinating the timing of the pulses, the team achieved a stronger collective response than with a single pulse, offering a more efficient way to manipulate crystal arrangements.

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