As we anticipate the future of electronics, we find ourselves standing on the threshold of novel material-based innovations. However, the natural atomic structure often poses challenges when trying to manifest new physical phenomena.
Addressing this, a team of researchers from the University of Zurich has accomplished the unprecedented task of meticulously designing superconductors atom by atom, thereby creating unexplored states of matter.
The quest to envision the computer of the future and its functioning serves as a significant stimulus for fundamental physical research. The potential outcomes span across a spectrum, from enhancing conventional electronics to exploring neuromorphic computing and quantum computers.
The unifying factor in these varied approaches is their foundation on innovative physical effects, some of which still exist solely in theoretical realms. Researchers relentlessly employ cutting-edge technology in their pursuit of discovering new quantum materials capable of manifesting these effects. But, what if nature doesn't provide the appropriate materials?
A recent study published in Nature Physics suggests a promising solution, brought forward by the research group led by UZH Professor Titus Neupert, in collaboration with physicists at the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics in Halle, Germany.
The researchers took the intuitive approach of creating the necessary materials themselves, atom by atom. Their focus lies on pioneering types of superconductors, which hold particular interest due to their zero electrical resistance at low temperatures.
Often dubbed as "perfect diamagnets," these superconductors are favored in many quantum computers owing to their exceptional magnetic field interactions.
Theoretical physicists have devoted years to investigating and predicting diverse superconducting states. "However, only a handful have been conclusively demonstrated in materials," shared Professor Neupert.
For more details, refer to the original study on phys.org or the Nature Physics journal (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-023-02104-5).
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