Ken Burch is a leading experimental condensed matter physicist and professor at Boston College. Most notably, he has been consistently at the forefront of condensed matter physics—producing an earth-shattering first-authored study on rare-earth tritellurides. To learn more, read his full research published on September 22, 2025. It exposes a hidden ferroaxial order of electronic origin in these materials. This important finding continues Burch’s trailblazing research. This achievement built on three-year-old work by him and his colleagues, who first detected the axial Higgs mode in a charge density wave (CDW) system.
Burch’s team used an array of sophisticated optical experiments to probe the properties of these exotic rare-earth tritellurides. Their goals centered around the identification of the structural underpinnings responsible for the electronic phenomena seen. This study strengthens our knowledge of these precursors materials. It enriches humanity’s understanding of emergent phases of matter—that is, creation of new order—more broadly.
The Axial Higgs Mode and Its Significance
Three years ago, Ken Burch and his co-authors stumbled onto an amazing finding. They found evidence for the axial Higgs mode, a rare collective vibration associated with a material’s electronic order. Seeing this mode detected was an incredible breakthrough for their research, leading them to explore more about its intricacies.
In his latest research, Burch noticed that this mode had the tendency known as ‘handedness’ – a property that fascinated Burch and his team. Specifically, they wanted to know what the ramifications of this handedness were, and what physical factors caused it to show up in the first place.
“The mode we observed also had a ‘handedness’ and we set about to find out why,” – Ken Burch
Burch’s group performed a series of incisive experiments to expose these enigmatic symmetries lurking within the crystal structure of rare-earth tritellurides. They wanted to know what symmetries had been broken. Their work took big steps towards shedding light on these symmetries. They examined the way these symmetries connect with the material’s electronic properties.
Methodology and Findings
Burch and his team used sophisticated optical methods to see how the structure of the material changed as they twisted it into different configurations. This ingenious method provided them with access to broken symmetries inside the crystal lattice.
“By carefully measuring the change with respect to rotating the crystal, we could uncover the broken symmetries,” – Ken Burch
The research team studied distinct hues released by the material throughout these trials. For this, they differentiated whether the observed changes were due to electronic activities or atomic modifications. This strategy allowed them to collect important baseline data regarding the causes of the measured effects.
“We also looked at specific colors coming out to uncover whether the change was primarily electronic or in the atoms. The optical experiments clearly point to an electronic origin,” – Ken Burch
To confirm their results, they employed an electron microscope. What the microscope uncovered was that the weak spot within the lattice structure was the ferroaxial component. It was this observation that provided the most compelling evidence that the phenomena they were studying were of electronic origin.
“We further tested this by looking with an electron microscope, which found the ‘ferroaxial’ component was extremely weak in the lattice, thus proving it was electronic in origin,” – Ken Burch
Implications for Future Research
Burch’s investigation into rare-earth tritellurides has wider resonance for what comes next, allowing for more detailed studies of condensed matter physics. He is especially keen on identifying and elucidating new emergent phases of matter. This understanding has the potential to accelerate progress through a diverse set of technological applications.
“My group has long been interested in understanding how to detect and understand emergent phases of matter,” – Ken Burch
This study reveals fundamental knowledge about rare-earth tritellurides. Beyond the work, it does so in a broader context to make a dramatic contribution to the broader field of condensed matter physics. Researchers are preparing to try these and other materials designed with unusual electronic properties. Milestones like Burch’s will surely pave the way to future found discoveries that could influence all aspects of material science and technology.