Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have identified a previously unobserved form of quantum matter. According to the team, this state arises inside a specially engineered material that may one day support self-charging computers and technologies capable of operating in the harsh environment of deep space.
"It's a new phase of matter, similar to how water can exist as liquid, ice or vapor," said Luis A. Jauregui, professor of physics & astronomy at UC Irvine and corresponding author of the new Physical Review Letters. "It's only been theoretically predicted -- no one has ever measured it until now."
Exotic Electron Behavior and Exciton Formation
In this phase, electrons and positively charged "holes" come together to form a fluid-like mixture that creates unusual structures known as excitons. What makes this discovery especially striking is that the electrons and holes rotate in the same direction. "It's its own new thing," Jauregui said. "If we could hold it in our hands, it would glow a bright, high-frequency light."
The phenomenon was found in a material produced at UC Irvine by postdoctoral researcher Jinyu Liu, the study's first author. Jauregui's group detected the phase at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico while studying the material under intense magnetic conditions.
Magnetic Fields Trigger the New Quantum Phase
Creating this quantum state required exposing the material to magnetic fields of up to 70 Teslas (by comparison, the magnetic field from a strong fridge magnet is around 0.1 Teslas). The team refers to the material as hafnium pentatelluride.
As the magnetic field increased, the researchers observed a sharp drop in the material's electrical conductivity. Jauregui explained that this sudden change indicated the system had shifted into the exotic exciton state. "This discovery is important because it may allow signals to be carried by spin rather than electrical charge, offering a new path toward energy-efficient technologies like spin-based electronics or quantum devices."
Radiation-Resistant Properties for Space Exploration
This newly observed quantum matter is not affected by radiation, a trait that sets it apart from many materials used in today's electronic devices. The team believes this could be significant for space applications.
"It could be useful for space missions," Jauregui said. "If you want computers in space that are going to last, this is one way to make that happen."
Companies such as SpaceX are working toward future human missions to Mars, and any long-duration spaceflight will require electronics that can handle continuous radiation exposure.
"We don't know yet what possibilities will open as a result," Jauregui said.
The material was synthesized, characterized and incorporated into testable devices at UC Irvine by Jinyu Liu with assistance from graduate students Robert Welser and Timothy McSorley, and undergraduate researcher Triet Ho. Theoretical modeling and interpretation were contributed by Shizeng Lin, Varsha Subramanyan, and Avadh Saxena at LANL. High-magnetic-field experiments were carried out with support from Laurel Winter and Michael T. Pettes at LANL and David Graf at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida.
