Key Points
- Researchers at UC Irvine have discovered a new state of quantum matter that was previously only theoretical.
- They created the new state by applying a super-strong magnetic field to a special material.
- The new quantum matter is not affected by any form of radiation.
- This makes it an ideal material for building long-lasting computers for deep space travel.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have discovered a completely new state of quantum matter. This breakthrough, they say, could lead to a new era of self-charging and radiation-proof computers. The discovery, which had only been predicted in theory, has now been measured for the first time.
Luis A. Jauregui, the professor who led the research, published in Physical Review Letters, compares the new phase to how water can exist as a liquid, solid, or gas. “It’s its own new thing,” he said, describing it as a liquid made of electrons and their opposites, called “holes,” all spinning together in the same direction.
The team created this new state by developing a special material and then applying an incredibly powerful magnetic field to it—hundreds of thousands of times stronger than a fridge magnet. In this intense field, the material’s ability to carry electricity suddenly dropped, indicating that it had transformed into a new exotic state.
This discovery has exciting potential applications. Because the new quantum matter is not affected by radiation, it is an ideal candidate for building computers that can withstand the challenges of deep space travel, such as future missions to Mars.
The material could also lead to new, super energy-efficient technologies that use the “spin” of electrons to carry information, rather than electrical charge. This could be a major step forward for quantum devices.
