Rice University physicists have achieved a breakthrough in understanding strange metals, materials defying conventional electricity and magnetism rules, using quantum information science. Published in Nature Communications, the study reveals heightened electron entanglement at a critical tipping point, offering insights into these enigmatic materials' behavior.
Led by Qimiao Si, the team employed quantum Fisher information (QFI) to measure electron interaction evolution under extreme conditions. Their research indicates that electron entanglement, a core quantum phenomenon, peaks at a quantum critical point—the transition between two matter states.
In conventional metals, electrons move predictably, but strange metals exhibit unusual electrical resistance and behavior at low temperatures. Focusing on the Kondo lattice model, researchers tracked quasiparticle loss to electron spin entanglement using QFI, finding entanglement peaks at the quantum critical point.
This approach integrates quantum information science with condensed matter physics, marking a new direction in materials research. Theoretical calculations aligned with inelastic neutron scattering data, reinforcing quantum entanglement's role in strange metal behavior.
Understanding strange metals could revolutionize power grids by enabling more efficient energy transmission, due to their connection with high-temperature superconductors. The study also demonstrates quantum information tools' applicability to other exotic materials, potentially enhancing future quantum technologies.