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.
Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili is participating in the 32nd OSCE Ministerial Council holding from 3rd to 5th December in Vienna....
Iran launched naval manoeuvre in its southern waters on Thursday as it concluded on the hosting the joint counter-terrorism drills of the Shanghai Coo...
Britain has imposed new sanctions on Russia, targeting the entire GRU military intelligence agency, which was highlighted in a UK public inquiry into ...
Afghanistan’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, has said distanced the Afghan government from recent incidents involving Afghan nationals on U.S....
The United States and Central Asian countries have expressed interest inn new opportunities arising from the Trump Route for International Peace and P...
Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili is participating in the 32nd OSCE Ministerial Council holding from 3rd to 5th December in Vienna.
Iran launched naval manoeuvre in its southern waters on Thursday as it concluded on the hosting the joint counter-terrorism drills of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Britain has imposed new sanctions on Russia, targeting the entire GRU military intelligence agency, which was highlighted in a UK public inquiry into the 2018 poisoning of Dawn Sturgess, caused by the nerve agent Novichok.
Afghanistan’s foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, has said distanced the Afghan government from recent incidents involving Afghan nationals on U.S. soil.
Chinese scientists have unveiled a new gene-editing therapy that they say could lead to a functional cure for HIV, making it one of the most promising developments in decades of global research.
For nearly three decades following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the international system was defined by a singular, overwhelming reality: American unipolarity.
As the year comes to an end, a new initiative bringing civil society actors and regional analysts from Armenia and Azerbaijan together is steadily gaining ground.
Uzbekistan has reopened its border with Afghanistan for the first time since 2021, the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced on Tuesday.
Faced with mounting public outrage following one of the deadliest environmental disasters in the nation’s recent history, the Indonesian government has pledged to investigate and potentially shut down mining operations found to have contributed to the catastrophic flooding on Sumatra.
A former Apple engineer has unveiled a new Chinese chip designed to compete directly with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has introduced its newest model, DeepSeek-V3.2-Speciale, claiming it can perform some tasks as well as the latest models from Google DeepMind and OpenAI.
A new robotic system developed for the Czech Police is reshaping how complex investigations are carried out, bringing laboratory-level precision directly to crime scenes.
Chinese scientists say they are moving closer to building one of the world’s most powerful neutrino telescopes, an underwater array known as the Tropical Deep sea Neutrino Telescope, or TRIDENT, that will sit around 3,500 metres below the surface.
Russia’s state communications watchdog said it is tightening restrictions on WhatsApp, claiming the US-owned platform violates Russian law and is being used to facilitate criminal activity, according to comments carried by the Tass news agency.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment