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Breakthrough in quantum research: Luminous quasiparticles discovered!
Researchers at the University of Würzburg are discovering new quasiparticles in quantum materials that could be crucial for future technologies.
Breakthrough in quantum research: Luminous quasiparticles discovered!
Scientists from the Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat have made significant progress in quantum research. They have detected optical quasiparticles, known as excitons, on the surface of an antiferromagnetic quantum material for the first time. This discovery represents an important step in the development of new quantum technologies and was published in the renowned scientific journal Natural Materials published.
The research team, led by Alexey Chernikov, examined the movement of excitons using ultrafast microscopy at ultra-low temperatures. The specific chemical structure of the semiconductor magnet chromium sulfide bromide (CrSBr) proves to be particularly suitable because it combines magnetic order with semiconducting properties. In contrast to previous studies, in which excitons mostly occur in non-magnetic materials, completely new perspectives are offered here.
Excitons: light storage and information carriers
Excitons are created when a pulse of light excites an electron, leaving a positively charged “hole.” These quasiparticles can store light energy and move through the material, releasing energy in the form of light as they dissolve. In atomically thin layers, their stability is maintained from around -268°C to room temperature. On the surface of CrSBr, the excitons reflect light in a different color, allowing them to be analyzed and manipulated by magnetic fields.
Additionally, the team discovered mobile excitons that move in opposite directions, behavior consistent with the theoretical work of Mikhail M. Glazov. This phenomenon is purely quantum mechanical and could have far-reaching applications in areas such as novel laser sources, light sensors and solar cells.
International cooperation and future prospects
The research project is the result of an international cooperation with scientists from the USA, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. The Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat, which has been supported by the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg and the TU Dresden since 2019, includes over 300 researchers from more than 30 countries who are working on researching topological quantum materials under extreme conditions.
Another significant discovery within the Cluster of Excellence is that excitons were generated in a topological insulator for the first time, representing another breakthrough. This finding opens up new possibilities for the development of light-controlled computer chips and quantum processors. The interplay between light and excitons is used to create qubits, the basic computing units for quantum computers.
In the future, the findings from these studies could lead to revolutionary developments in quantum communication and computing. The Cluster of Excellence receives funding as part of the excellence strategy of the federal and state governments.