An unprecedented discovery in graphene research has unveiled a new class of quantum states in a precisely engineered structure. Scientists at the University of British Columbia (UBC), the University of Washington and Johns Hopkins University identified topological electronic crystals in a folded bilayer-trilayer graphene system. The structure was created by stacking two-dimensional graphene layers with slight rotational twists, leading to conformational changes in electronic properties.
Search and Methodology
according to a study published In nature, the system uses a moiré pattern that is formed when two graphene layers are misaligned with a small rotational angle. This pattern changes the speed of the electrons, slowing them down and introducing unique behavior. The electrons in this bent configuration exhibit vortex-like motion, revolutionizing the understanding of graphene’s electrical properties.
Professor from UBC’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Blouson Quantum Matter Institute. Joshua Folk, Physics.org explained The geometric interference effect enables the electrons to coagulate into an ordered array while maintaining a synchronous rotational motion. This unique behavior allows electrical current to flow along the edges of the sample while the interior remains non-conductive.
Key comments and implications
According to reports, Ruiheng Su, an undergraduate researcher at UBC, observed this phenomenon during experiments on a twisted graphene sample prepared by Dr. DeSean Waters of the University of Washington. The locked yet rotating electron array displayed a paradoxical combination of immobility and conductivity, a property attributed to topology.
Professor Matthew Yankowitz of the University of Washington highlighted on phs.org that the edge currents are determined by fundamental constants, unaffected by external disturbances. Such flexibility arises from the topology of the system, which is compared to a Möbius strip where deformation does not change intrinsic properties.
Applications in quantum information
This discovery is expected to open the way to progress in quantum information systems. Coupling topological electronic crystals with superconductivity may make it possible to create stronger qubits, paving the way for topological quantum computing. Researchers predict that this development will lead to significant growth in the field of quantum technologies.
