Hidden polar phase in the quantum paraelectric SrTiO3

Abstract: Hidden phases of quantum materials are collective states that exist outside the equilibrium phase diagram and can host exotic properties with transformative potential. However, because they can often mimic known states, identifying them remains challenging. Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) epitomizes this challenge: upon cooling, it displays signatures of ferroelectricity yet never develops this order. We combined mechanical strain with ultrafast laser pulses and x-ray scattering to discover a new polar state in SrTiO3 that is distinct from ferroelectricity. Its signature are distinctive polar vibrations with nanometer wavelengths. This reveals that strain stabilizes a hidden state characterized by a nanoscale polarization modulation rather than conventional homogeneous ferroelectricity. Our findings may offer an alternative explanation for quantum paraelectricity and demonstrate that probing collective excitations at finite momentum is essential for identifying hidden phases in quantum materials.