ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Optically detected magnetic resonance

Optically detected magnetic resonance is a scientific technique that helps us study how tiny particles called electrons move and interact with each other inside materials.

Imagine you have a toy car with a small ball inside it. If you shake the car, the ball will move and bounce around inside. Similarly, electrons inside materials also move around and interact with each other due to the magnetic fields that surround them.

Scientists use lasers to create light that shines on the material they want to study. The material absorbs some of the light and sends it back out again. Scientists then use special detectors to measure how the light behaves when it comes out of the material.

By carefully analyzing the behavior of the light, scientists can learn how the electrons are moving and interacting with each other inside the material. They can also use this technique to study the properties of materials like metals, semiconductors, and even biological systems.

Overall, optically detected magnetic resonance is a powerful tool that helps scientists understand the hidden workings of materials at a very small scale.