Researchers have found evidence of an anomalous phase of matter whose existence was predicted in the 1960s
Exploring the quantum material selenidenickel-tantalum (Ta2NiSe5), researchers from the University of Cambridge noticed the presence of unexpectedly fast waves of energy passing through the material when exposed to short, intense laser pulses.
Scientists probed the material with two lightimpulses: the first broke its structure and created vibrations that spread outward in concentric circles, just like a stone falls into a pond. The second impulse made it possible to track the movement of these waves. The images put together have allowed scientists to investigate this phenomenon and figure out its limitations.
At room temperature these waves move witha hundredth of the speed of light. This is much faster than we expected. But when we move to higher temperatures, the material is completely calm. We don't see the waves hitting at all. We spent a lot of time looking for the reasons for this phenomenon.
Hope Bretscher, author of the study at their Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge
The only explanation that fitall conditions, in the material at room temperature there is an excitonic insulator phase, a substance that was theoretically predicted, but not previously discovered.
Observed energy waves in an excitonic insulatorare explained by the motion of charged neutral particles, which can move as fast as electrons. It is important to note that these particles can carry information without interference.
The new work, the authors believe, takes humanity one step closer to creating future technologies in which information will be transmitted without interference.
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