Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Electron highway inside crystal

Physicists at the University of Würzburg have discovered a new electronic state in topological crystalline insulators, creating conductive channels for electrical currents. The channels are narrow and robust, making the materials suitable for ultra-fast and energy-efficient computers.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalScience·DateDec 8, 2016

Surprising qualities of insulator ring surfaces

Researchers have discovered that ring-shaped topological insulators display characteristics similar to those in spherical materials. The study reveals a zero-energy state on the surface of ring-shaped insulators and a coupling between charge carriers and curvature, leading to gauge fields and unique electron spin behavior.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJun 29, 2016

Topological insulators: Magnetism is not causing loss of conductivity

Researchers have shown that magnetism does not cause topological insulators to lose their conductivity. Instead, they found a band gap that is significantly larger than predicted by theory and involves a different causal mechanism. The study suggests that scattering processes may be responsible for opening the band gap.

Stacking instead of mixing

Scientists at Jülich and Aachen have developed a method to control the conducting properties of topological insulators more precisely. By stacking materials instead of mixing, they optimized conductivity and reduced energy requirements. This breakthrough could lead to faster and more efficient computers and mobile phones.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 17, 2015

Chance effect of lab's fluorescent lights leads to discovery

Scientists at Penn State and University of Chicago discovered a new way to use light to draw and erase quantum-mechanical circuits on topological insulators, allowing for non-invasive and faster experimentation. The technique uses ultraviolet and bright red light to manipulate the electronic properties of these materials.

SourcePenn State·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 9, 2015

Soundproofing with quantum physics

Researchers have successfully applied topological insulator principles to mechanical systems, creating edge states that exhibit robust, 'topologically protected' properties. These properties make them suitable for applications in sound and vibration insulation, as well as focusing sound like a lens.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateJul 2, 2015

Self-destructive effects of magnetically-doped ferromagnetic topological insulators

A new study reveals extreme disorder in a fundamental property of the surface electrons known as the Dirac mass in ferromagnetic topological insulators. The research found that the disorder is directly related to fluctuations in the density of magnetic dopant atoms on different parts of the crystal surface.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 19, 2015

The birth of topological spintronics

Researchers at Penn State and Cornell University have discovered a new material combination that can control magnetic memory or logic 10 times more efficiently than current methods. The discovery uses topological insulators to manipulate spin orientation, overcoming a key challenge in developing spintronics technology.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·DateJul 23, 2014

Interdisciplinary team demonstrates superconducting qualities of topological insulators

An interdisciplinary team has successfully depleted electrons from the bulk of topological insulators, demonstrating superconducting surface states. This breakthrough enables experimentation with TIs and paves the way for investigating the Majorana quasiparticle, a fermion that could serve as a quantum bit in quantum computing.

Engineers show feasibility of superfast materials

Engineers at the University of Utah have shown that it is feasible to create organic topological insulators, which can conduct electricity on their edges but act as an insulator inside. This discovery could enable faster-than-light information transfer in quantum computers and spintronics devices.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 13, 2013

A new route to dissipationless electronics

Researchers at RIKEN have demonstrated a new material that can eliminate loss in electrical power transmission, opening the door to energy-efficient electronics. The discovery uses magnetic topological insulators, which exhibit unique properties that allow for dissipationless electricity channels.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature Physics·DateAug 19, 2012

Beyond the high-speed hard drive: Topological insulators open a path to room-temperature spintronics

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have demonstrated unique new materials for innovative electronic and magnetic applications. Bismuth selenide's surface electrons flow at room temperature, making it an attractive candidate for spintronics devices and quantum computers. The material's low electron-phonon coupling also underlines its practical...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 14, 2012

JQI physicists demonstrate coveted 'spin-orbit coupling' in atomic gases

Physicists at JQI successfully demonstrated spin-orbit coupling in a gas of bosonic rubidium atoms, opening new possibilities for studying fundamental physics. The technique also showed promise for creating novel interactions between fermions, which could lead to breakthroughs in topological quantum computation and superconductivity.