US: Scientists find Higgs mode in a semiconductor for the first time

US: Scientists find Higgs mode in a semiconductor for the first time

Scientists at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in the US found an elusive type of vibration, called the Higgs mode, in a semiconductor material for the first time. The collective movement of atoms resulted in a change in the symmetry of the crystal, which can be tuned to optimize the material’s properties.  If you recall science taught at school, you will remember that in gases molecules are loosely packed and are in motion, whereas in soli…