BD researcher achieves breakthrough in quantum physics
Staff Reporter :
Scientists at Princeton University, spearheaded by Bangladeshi researcher M. Zahid Hasan, have achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum physics, as detailed in the Nature Physics journal on February 20.
Their work showcases the observation of long-range quantum coherence at relatively high temperatures, marking a pivotal advancement for the development of future technologies such as super-fast computers and ultra-secure communication networks.
Previously, the realization of such states was constrained by the requirement for extremely low temperatures.
Quantum coherence resembles the state of a spinning coin that is simultaneously heads and tails.
This fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics enables objects to exist in multiple states at once, diverging from the singular states observable in our everyday reality.
It is the key to unlocking the quantum world’s bizarre yet potent properties, like superposition and entanglement, which are vital for emerging quantum technologies.
The team discovered a new material, bismuth bromide (?-Bi4Br4), a topological insulator capable of sustaining quantum coherence at temperatures far higher than previously possible.
Topological insulators are unique materials that conduct electricity only on their surfaces while remaining insulating internally.
They have been a significant focus of quantum physics research for the past decade.
Bismuth bromide stands out for its ability to maintain quantum coherence over long distances and at much higher temperatures than the near-absolute zero conditions typically necessary for such phenomena.
This discovery holds profound implications for quantum computing and energy-efficient electronics.
Quantum coherence underpins the superposition and entanglement of quantum states, crucial for quantum computers’ functionality.
Moreover, traditional electronics, which depend on electrical charge flow, could be greatly enhanced or replaced by devices leveraging the quantum properties of electrons, such as spin, to achieve higher efficiency and lower energy consumption.
The research, culminating over 15 years of effort at Princeton, employed Aharonov-Bohm interference to illustrate these quantum effects.
This interference pattern, arising when electrons maintain a coherent phase while traversing different paths, indicates the feasibility of topological insulators under real-world conditions, addressing the challenges of temperature and coherence length.
Professor Hasan and his team, collaborating with experts from the University of Zurich and the Beijing Institute of Technology, have advanced the field of topological quantum physics and engineering.
Their findings underscore the resilience of topological circuits against defects and impurities and open new paths for quantum information science exploration.
