Quantum materials, which underpin next-generation computing and superconductivity, are defined by microscopic behaviors of electrons and atoms. While the 20th century saw the rise of transistors from such studies, today scientists continue to discover phenomena that push past established models. Among them is the so-called quantum metric, a geometric property predicted to shape electron behavior.
"The concept of quantum metric dates back about 20 years, but for a long time it was regarded purely as a theoretical construct. Only in recent years have scientists begun to explore its tangible effects on the properties of matter," said Andrea Caviglia, professor and director of the Department of Quantum Matter Physics at UNIGE.
The Geneva-led team detected quantum metric effects at the interface between two oxides, strontium titanate and lanthanum aluminate, widely studied in quantum materials research. "Its presence can be revealed by observing how electron trajectories are distorted under the combined influence of quantum metric and intense magnetic fields applied to solids," explained Giacomo Sala, research associate at UNIGE and lead author of the study.
Their results demonstrate that quantum metric is intrinsic to a wide range of materials, not an exotic rarity. This breakthrough provides researchers with a new tool to more precisely characterize electronic, optical and transport properties, crucial for next-generation materials design.
"These discoveries open up new avenues for exploring and harnessing quantum geometry in a wide range of materials, with major implications for future electronics operating at terahertz frequencies (a trillion hertz), as well as for superconductivity and light - matter interactions," Caviglia concluded.
Research Report:The quantum metric of electrons with spin-momentum locking
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