Martensitic crystal structures are usually obtained by rapid thermal quenching of certain alloys, as this induces local shear deformation. This paper reveals that the latter, and hence a martensitic structural transformation, can also be achieved by exciting a suitable transverse phonon mode, as is demonstrated in partially stabilized zirconia by using intense terahertz pulses.
- Masaya Nagai
- Yuhei Higashitani
- Norimasa Ozaki
