Strange Metals: A New Theory Reveals the Secret Behind Their Special Behavior
Studies conducted by AAVishkar Patel from the Institute Flatiron, reveal the mechanism explaining the special behavior of strange metals, one of the most important unresolved problems in the physics of the condensed state.
For almost four decades, these metals puzzled quantum physicists, as their properties did not fit into the usual frames. Patel and his colleagues have presented a universal theory to explain why strange metals are so unusual. These metals can be found in many quantum materials, some of which, with minor changes, can become superconductors.
The new theory is based on a combination of two properties of strange metals. Firstly, their electrons can be entangled with each other, connecting their destinies, and remain entangled even at a distance. Secondly, strange metals have an uneven arrangement of atoms. The combination of these properties has helped to explain many oddities of such metals.
“This relationship of entanglement and unevenness is a new effect; it has never been considered for any material before,” says Patel.
The researcher also claims that a better understanding of strange metals can help physicists develop and design new superconductors for applications such as quantum computers.
Given that strange metals have become less mysterious, Patel suggests they be called “unusual metals.”
This discovery may be the key to understanding new types of superconductivity and could pave the way for the creation of new materials and technologies.