TY - JOUR

T1 - Quantum Electric Dipole Lattice

T2 - Water Molecules Confined to Nanocavities in Beryl

AU - Dressel, Martin

AU - Zhukova, Elena S.

AU - Thomas, Victor G.

AU - Gorshunov, Boris P.

PY - 2018/9/1

Y1 - 2018/9/1

N2 - Water is subject to intense investigations due to its importance in biological matter but keeps many of its secrets. Here, we unveil an even other aspect by confining H2O molecules to nanosize cages. Our THz and infrared spectra of water in the gemstone beryl evidence quantum tunneling of H2O molecules in the crystal lattice. The water molecules are spread out when confined in a nanocage. In combination with low-frequency dielectric measurements, we were also able to show that dipolar coupling among the H2O molecules leads towards a ferroelectric state at low temperatures. Upon cooling, a ferroelectric soft mode shifts through the THz range. Only quantum fluctuations prevent perfect macroscopic order to be fully achieved. Beside the significance to life science and possible application, nanoconfined water may become the prime example of a quantum electric dipolar lattice.

AB - Water is subject to intense investigations due to its importance in biological matter but keeps many of its secrets. Here, we unveil an even other aspect by confining H2O molecules to nanosize cages. Our THz and infrared spectra of water in the gemstone beryl evidence quantum tunneling of H2O molecules in the crystal lattice. The water molecules are spread out when confined in a nanocage. In combination with low-frequency dielectric measurements, we were also able to show that dipolar coupling among the H2O molecules leads towards a ferroelectric state at low temperatures. Upon cooling, a ferroelectric soft mode shifts through the THz range. Only quantum fluctuations prevent perfect macroscopic order to be fully achieved. Beside the significance to life science and possible application, nanoconfined water may become the prime example of a quantum electric dipolar lattice.

KW - Dielectric spectroscopy

KW - Dipolar interaction

KW - Ferroelectricity

KW - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

KW - Quantum tunneling

KW - THz spectroscopy

KW - Water

KW - VIBRATIONAL-STATES

KW - D2O

KW - OPTICAL-CONSTANTS

KW - H2O

KW - ICE

KW - SPECTROSCOPY

KW - WATER-MOLECULES

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042194584&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/s10762-018-0472-8

DO - 10.1007/s10762-018-0472-8

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85042194584

VL - 39

SP - 799

EP - 815

JO - Journal of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves

JF - Journal of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves

SN - 1866-6892

IS - 9

ER -