Researchers at Rice University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of strange metals—materials that defy conventional understanding of electricity and magnetism
Using quantum Fisher information (QFI), a concept borrowed from quantum computing, the team has uncovered how electron entanglement peaks at a quantum critical point, offering a new perspective on these mysterious materials.
The study, led by Qimiao Si, professor of physics and astronomy at Rice, was published on March 14, 2025, in Nature Communications under the title “Amplified multipartite entanglement witnessed in a quantum critical metal.”
Unlike typical metals like copper or gold, strange metals exhibit unpredictable electrical properties, particularly at very low temperatures. Traditional physics fails to explain their behavior. The researchers focused on a theoretical model known as the Kondo lattice, which describes how magnetic moments interact with electrons.
At a critical transition point, these interactions grow so intense that the building blocks of electrical behavior, known as quasiparticles, disappear. Using QFI, the team was able to track how this quasiparticle loss is linked to electron spins becoming highly entangled. The entanglement peaks precisely at the quantum critical point—the boundary between two different states of matter.
Understanding strange metals could have profound technological implications. These materials share properties with high-temperature superconductors, which have the potential to transmit electricity without energy loss. Unlocking their secrets could revolutionize power grids and energy-efficient technologies.
“Our findings reveal that strange metals exhibit a unique entanglement pattern, which offers a new lens to understand their exotic behavior,” said Si. “By leveraging quantum information theory, we are uncovering deep quantum correlations that were previously inaccessible.”
The application of QFI, primarily used in quantum information and precision measurements, marks a novel approach in materials research. The researchers’ calculations aligned with real-world experimental data obtained through inelastic neutron scattering, further validating their findings.
“By integrating quantum information science with condensed matter physics, we are pivoting in a new direction in materials research,” Si explained.
This discovery doesn’t just unravel the mysteries of strange metals; it provides a framework for exploring other complex materials. Enhanced entanglement, as demonstrated in this study, could be a valuable resource for future quantum technologies.
As researchers continue to explore the implications of their findings, the potential applications of strange metals and their connection to superconductors could pave the way for revolutionary advancements in energy transmission and quantum computing.
Protests continued into another day in Iran, with crowds returning to the streets despite mounting pressure from the authorities. By scale and spread,...
On Tuesday, the U.S. dollar strengthened against major peers, while the euro fell following slower-than-expected inflation in Europe. Market movements...
U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are actively exploring options to acquire Greenland, with discussions including the potential use of the U.S....
Leaders from the U.S. and European countries moved closer to finalising legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine following a “Coalition of th...
Wall Street closed higher on Tuesday, boosted by optimism over artificial intelligence (AI) and a strong rally in Moderna shares, with the Dow Jones I...
Protests continued into another day in Iran, with crowds returning to the streets despite mounting pressure from the authorities. By scale and spread, the unrest has entered its most significant phase so far.
On Tuesday, the U.S. dollar strengthened against major peers, while the euro fell following slower-than-expected inflation in Europe. Market movements were relatively subdued as investors focused on upcoming U.S. economic data.
U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are actively exploring options to acquire Greenland, with discussions including the potential use of the U.S. military, which is "always an option," according to a statement from the White House on Tuesday.
Leaders from the U.S. and European countries moved closer to finalising legally binding security guarantees for Ukraine following a “Coalition of the Willing” meeting in Paris on Sunday.
Germany’s foreign intelligence service secretly monitored the telephone communications of former U.S. President Barack Obama for several years, including calls made aboard Air Force One, according to an investigation by the German newspaper Die Zeit.
Israeli media report that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a lengthy security meeting that reportedly focused on the country’s regional threats, including Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
At the end of last year, U.S. President Donald Trump was reported to have raised the Azerbaijan–Armenia peace agenda during a conversation with Israel’s prime minister, warning that if peace were not achieved, Washington could raise tariffs on both countries by 100 percent.
President Ilham Aliyev said 2025 has politically closed the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, as a Trump-era reset in U.S. ties, new transport corridors and a push into AI, renewables and defence production reshape Azerbaijan’s priorities.
Dmitry Medvedev has warned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could face the same fate as Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, following what he described as a U.S. ‘abduction’ of the Venezuelan president.
Tesla delivered 1.64 million vehicles in 2025, down 9%, as BYD becomes the top EV maker.
SpaceX will gradually lower 4,400 Starlink satellites this year to improve space safety.
Poland has asked the European Commission to investigate TikTok after artificial intelligence-generated content calling for the country to leave the European Union appeared on the platform, which Warsaw says was likely Russian disinformation.
Tianhui-7 satellite to be used for geographic mapping, land resource surveys, and scientific research.
Iran successfully launched three satellites on Sunday using a Russian Soyuz rocket from Russia’s Far East, marking the latest stage in growing Iran-Russia space cooperation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment