  Light-matter interactions that lead to nonthermal changes in size of the
sample constitute a photostrictive effect in many compounds. The photostriction
phenomenon was observed in four main groups of materials, ferroelectrics,
polar, and non-polar semiconductors, as well as in organic-based materials that
are reviewed here. The key mechanisms of photostriction and its dependence on
several parameters and perturbations are assessed. The major literature of the
photostriction is surveyed, and the review ends with a summary of the proposed
technical applications.
