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Topological materials could be very useful in quantum computing or advanced electronics
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Dirac electrons must be described in four dimensions to fully understand their properties.
Particle physics never ceases to amaze us. The discovery that we propose to investigate in this article is led by one of the most exciting elementary particles ever known, ElectronBut it has not been implemented by CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research), the prestigious particle physics laboratory located near Geneva (Switzerland).
Nor by the no less respected Fermi Laboratory in the United States. Its directors are researchers from Ehime University in Japan, led by physicist Ryohei Oka. This statement from Domenico De Santi, one of the researchers involved in the first measurement of electron spin, pass Clearly what we have at hand:
“The behavior of electrons in materials is conditioned by several quantum properties that determine the way they spin in the material of which they are a part. This phenomenon is similar to how The path that light follows “As it travels through the universe, it is changed by the presence of stars, black holes, dark matter or dark energy, which are able to bend the space-time continuum.”
Dirac electrons reappeared
Di Santi's thinking immerses us fully in the discovery made by Oka and his colleagues. These Japanese scientists were able to identify very strange electrons known to physicists as “Dirac electrons” inside a superconducting polymer known as diethyl tetravaline.
The name of this substance is unpronounceable, that's true, but what's really important is the presence of these electrons in… Very strict conditions They lack effective mass, which allows them to behave similarly to photons and, therefore, oscillate at the speed of light.
This is not the first time physicists have identified these elusive electrons. Other researchers have found it in graphene, as well as in other topological materials, but the discovery by these Japanese physicists could be of great value when it comes to better understanding, specifically, the properties of the latter.
Topological materials exhibit different electrical properties on their surface and inside due to the topology of their electronic structure.
Note before continuing: Topological materials exhibit different electrical properties on their surface and inside due to… Topology of its electronic structure. Over the past decades, they have been studied by many researchers because they can be very useful in quantum computing or advanced electronics applications.
To find these special electrons in the superconducting polymer I mentioned a few lines ago above, the group led by Oka devised a very ingenious strategy. In general, it requires applying a magnetic field to the material under study with the ability to interact with and change the spin of any unpaired electron. In fact, this technique allows physicists to identify and observe unpaired electrons.
Before going further, we are interested to know that an unpaired electron is one whose spin is not offset by another electron with opposite spin in the same atom or molecule. On the other hand, spin is a quantum phenomenon, so it is not entirely correct to describe it as Conventional rotational motion in space. However, for eminent educational purpose, we can observe this as an intrinsic property of elementary particles, such as electric charge, derived from their angular torque.
Spin is a quantum phenomenon, so it is not entirely correct to describe it as a conventional rotational motion in space.
During their experiment, Oka and his colleagues realized something crucial: if they wanted to understand the behavior of Dirac electrons, they had to describe them in four dimensions. The first three are the spatial dimensions we are all familiar with, and the fourth consists of the energy level of the electron.
In the scientific article they published in Provide materials These physicists explain that thanks to this multi-dimensional strategy, they realized how fast these electrons move It wasn't consistent; It depends on the temperature and the angle of the magnetic field within the material. His discovery is important insofar as it helps physicists better understand the behavior of Dirac electrons, but it also has the potential to make a difference in the study of topological materials.
Image | Xataka with Midjourney
More information | Provide materials
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