How microscopic matter can exhibit massive, unexpected macroscopic properties
In short: Even at the smallest scales, matter can behave in ways that defy traditional physics. Through the study of topological quantum matter, scientists are discovering exotic states where the exterior of a material behaves completely differently than its interior, potentially unlocking the secrets of quantum computing.
In 2016, David Thouless, Duncan Haldane, and Michael Kosterlitz were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their discovery of topological phases. They demonstrated that microscopic matter can exhibit macroscopic properties that are topological in nature. This field explores how the fundamental arrangement of particles can dictate the large-scale behavior of a material, regardless of its specific composition.
One fascinating example is the topological insulator. These materials are paradoxical: they act as insulators in their interiors but function as conductors on their exteriors. A related area of research involves topological superconductors. In these materials, electrical resistance vanishes and magnetic fields are expelled once they fall below a specific critical temperature.
A major focus for physicists like Dr. Fan Zhang is the search for Majorana bound states within these superconductors. Unlike normal electrons, which are complex fermions carrying charge and spin, Majorana bound states are unusual real fermions that possess neither charge nor spin. They always appear in pairs and exist only at the boundaries of the system.
The behavior of these states depends on the system's dimensionality. In a one-dimensional system, such as a wire, these states appear at the two ends. In a two-dimensional system, they appear along the edges. While these states could eventually be used to develop influential future devices like quantum computers, researchers like Zhang argue that understanding the profound beauty of these physics laws is the more significant pursuit.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: What in the world is topological quantum matter? - Fan Zhang
- Also: What in the world is topological quantum matter? - Fan Zhang | TED-Ed
- Also: Fan Zhang: What in the world is topological quantum matter? | TED Talk
- Also: Scientist To Delve Deep into Quantum Physics with NSF CAREER Award - News Center | The University of Texas at Dallas
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