Reply to: Limitations of probing field-induced response with STM

Nature

by Yuqing Xing

February 26, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

In a recent study published in *Nature*, researchers demonstrated how electric fields generated by laser light can manipulate charge-density-wave (CDW) states in the material RbV3Sb5, challenging previous claims about the limitations of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in probing field-induced responses. The team showed that the relative intensities of CDW peaks in STM topographies could be controlled by an electric field, with accompanying changes in Bragg vector ratios. These findings replicate earlier observations regarding magnetic field effects on CDW states. While Candelora and Zeljkovic argued that measurement artifacts like drift, noise, or tip changes might explain the observed effects, the authors countered that their results were robust and not easily dismissed by such factors. The study builds on previous work where optical manipulation of CDW states was achieved, highlighting the potential for external fields to influence quantum materials. The researchers emphasized that their findings align with established physics principles and offer new insights into how light can modulate electronic states in kagome superconductors like RbV3Sb5. This material has gained significant attention due to its unique properties, including chiral charge order and Fermi arc behavior, which are key areas of research in modern condensed matter physics. The debate over STM's limitations underscores the challenges of measuring dynamic electronic responses in complex materials.

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Originally published on Nature on 2/26/2026