A study published in Nature Physics ("Emergent topological semimetal from quantum criticality"), co-led by Rice University’s Qimiao Si, brings together quantum criticality, where electrons fluctuate between different phases, and electronic topology, which describes a form of quantum organization based on the wave behavior of electrons.
The researchers found that strong interactions among electrons can produce topological behavior, paving the way for new technologies that could use this quantum state in real-world applications.
“This is a fundamental step forward,” said Si, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy and director of Rice’s Extreme Quantum Materials Alliance. “Our work shows that powerful quantum effects can combine to create something entirely new, which may help shape the future of quantum science.”
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