For the first time, researchers have created a material that brings scientists closer to understanding quantum spin liquids -- a mysterious state of matter predicted by physics but never fully observed.
This breakthrough could lead to new quantum materials with unusual magnetic properties that defy classical physics.
The study, published in Nature Communications, was led by scientists at the University of Birmingham.
They designed a ruthenium-based material that meets the requirements for the "Kitaev quantum spin liquid state," a phenomenon first theorized in 2009.
Unlike regular magnets, which have orderly magnetic properties (like bar magnets with north and south poles), quantum spin liquids are disordered.
In these materials, electrons don't align neatly; instead, they interact through quantum entanglement, a process that links particles in ways that classical physics cannot explain.
Although quantum spin liquids exist in theory and have been modeled in experiments, scientists have struggled to produce them in real materials.
Natural minerals suspected of hosting quantum spin liquids have structural complexities that make them difficult to study.
Additionally, past attempts to engineer these materials often caused them to revert to conventional magnetic behavior.
The research team developed a material with an open framework structure that weakens the magnetic interactions between ruthenium ions.
This structure prevents the material from settling into an ordered magnetic state, creating conditions closer to the elusive quantum spin liquid state.
Specialized instruments at the UK's ISIS Neutron and Muon Source and Diamond Light Source were used to confirm the material's properties. The open framework allows scientists to tune the material's magnetic interactions more precisely, offering a promising pathway for further research.
Lead researcher Dr. Lucy Clark explained, "This work is an important step toward engineering materials that let us explore quantum states of matter. It opens up a new family of materials with exciting possibilities for quantum applications."
Quantum spin liquids could revolutionize technology. Their unique magnetic properties may play a key role in developing quantum computers and other advanced devices. However, understanding these materials is challenging because their complex magnetic interactions are difficult to model and test.
The new material isn't a perfect Kitaev quantum spin liquid yet, but it provides a critical bridge between theory and experimentation. Dr. Clark added, "This discovery has opened up new directions for research, helping us better understand these fascinating quantum states of matter."
This work marks a significant advance in the quest to unlock the potential of quantum spin liquids and design materials for the quantum technologies of the future.