Category archives: Quantum physics

In the layered kagome metal CsV₃Sb₅, researchers have observed something that, until now, seemed almost impossible: robust quantum interference in the normal, non-superconducting state, persisting over distances of several micrometers. The interference is not the fragile single-particle kind seen in ultra-clean semiconductors at millikelvin temperatures. Instead, it behaves as if the entire stack of kagome […]

A new study has identified a surprising source of entropy in quantum timekeeping—the act of measurement itself. The researchers demonstrate that the energy cost of “reading” a quantum clock far outweighs the cost of running it, with implications for the design of future quantum technologies. Clocks, whether pendulums or atomic oscillators, rely on irreversible processes […]

Graphene—a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice—has captivated scientists because of its extraordinary electronic and mechanical properties. Its electrons move through the lattice almost as if they were massless, giving graphene exceptionally high electrical conductivity and mobility. However, pristine graphene sheets are not magnetic and their electrons are delocalized across the […]

In physics, waves often reveal more than meets the eye. A ripple on a pond looks simple enough, but beneath its surface lies a rich mathematical structure that can connect something as everyday as water to the abstract worlds of optics, acoustics, and even quantum mechanics. A recent work brings this connection vividly to life […]

Imagine a material where electrons glide through without any resistance, moving like a perfectly synchronized dance troupe. This phenomenon, known as superconductivity, allows electricity to flow with zero energy loss, holding immense promise for everything from ultra-efficient power lines to advanced quantum computers. A a team of researchers dives into this fascinating world, focusing on […]

“God does not play dice.” This famous remark by Albert Einstein critiqued the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics. Paradoxically, his theory of relativity has become an essential tool for understanding the behaviour of electrons, the primary subjects of quantum mechanics. Electrons are so minuscule that their behaviour must be analysed through quantum mechanics, yet they […]

Can you prove whether a large quantum system truly behaves according to the weird and wonderful rules of quantum mechanics—or if it just looks like it does? In a new study, physicists from Leiden, Beijing and Hangzhou found the answer to this question. You could call it a “quantum lie detector”: Bell’s test designed by […]

When Georg Ohm wired up pieces of copper in 1827, he struck a rule so robust that it still underpins every phone and supercomputer on Earth: double the current, double the voltage. Simple, linear, universal—or so we thought. Over the past decade physicists have discovered that this bedrock principle crumbles the moment a crystal loses […]

When scientists place a single molecule on a surface and move electrons in or out one at a time, quantum mechanics comes to life in vivid detail. A team of researchers used a specialized microscope to study a copper-phthalocyanine (CuPc) molecule resting on a thin layer of salt. They discovered that the salt, far from […]

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) have theoretically demonstrated that photons trapped inside an optical cavity carry detailed information about a material placed within it. By measuring the properties of the photons leaking out of the cavity, researchers can probe how an optical cavity modifies the properties […]