Researchers find new quantum metal to elevate sensor tech in medical diagnostics

A new study led by Rice University’s Qimiao Si has unveiled a new class of quantum critical metal, shedding light on the intricate interactions of electrons within quantum materials.

The research, published in Physical Review Letters on September 6, explores the effects of Kondo coupling and chiral spin liquids within specific lattice structures.

“The insights gained from this discovery could lead to the development of electronic devices with extreme sensitivity, driven by the unique properties of quantum-critical systems,” said Si, the director of Rice’s Extreme Quantum Materials Alliance.

Complex behaviors

At the core of this research is the concept of quantum phase transitions.

Just as water changes between solid, liquid, and gas states, electrons in quantum materials can shift between different phases as their environment changes.

But unlike water, these electrons follow the rules of quantum mechanics, leading to much more complex behaviors.

Quantum mechanics introduce two key effects: quantum fluctuations and electronic topology.

Even at absolute zero, where thermal fluctuations disappear, quantum fluctuations can still cause changes in the organization of electrons, leading to quantum phase transitions. These transitions often result in extreme physical properties known as quantum criticality.

Moreover, quantum mechanics give electrons a unique property tied to topology, a mathematical concept that can produce unusual and potentially useful behaviors when applied to electronic states.

Si’s group carried out the study in a long-term collaboration with Silke Paschen, the study co-author and a professor of physics at the Vienna University of Technology, and her research team. Together, they developed a theoretical model to explore these quantum effects.

More fluid arrangement

The researchers considered two types of electrons: some moving slowly, like cars stuck in traffic, and others moving quickly in a fast lane.

Although the slow-moving electrons appear stationary, their spins can point in any direction.

“Ordinarily, these spins would form an orderly pattern, but the lattice they inhabit in our model doesn’t allow for such neatness, leading to geometrical frustration,” Si said.

Instead, the spins form a more fluid arrangement known as a quantum spin liquid, which is chiral and picks a direction in time. When this spin liquid couples with the fast-moving electrons, it has a topological effect.

The research team discovered that this coupling also triggers a transition into a Kondo phase, where the spins of the slow electrons lock onto the fast ones. The study reveals the complex interplay between electronic topology and quantum phase transitions.

As electrons move through these transitions, their behavior changes dramatically, particularly in how they conduct electricity.

Paschen said one of the most significant findings is the Hall effect, which describes how an electrical current bends under the influence of an external magnetic field.

“The Hall effect contains a component that is enabled by the electronic topology,” she said. “We show that this effect experiences a sudden jump across the quantum critical point.”

This discovery advances our understanding of quantum materials and opens up new possibilities for future technology, Si said. An important part of the research team’s finding is that the Hall effect responds drastically to the quantum phase transition.

“Thanks to the topology, this response happens in a minute magnetic field,” he said.

The unusual properties could lead to the development of new types of electronic devices, such as sensors with extreme sensitivity, which could revolutionize fields like medical diagnostics or environmental monitoring.