South Middlesex Times

An international collaboration led by researchers from Rutgers University-New Brunswick has combined two synthesized materials into a previously impossible synthetic quantum structure. This development could lead to new materials crucial for quantum computing, as detailed in the journal Nano Letters. The team's four-year effort resulted in a method to design and build this innovative structure composed of distinct atomic layers.

Jak Chakhalian, a physicist at Rutgers and lead investigator, explained that the creation involves dysprosium titanate and pyrochlore iridate, both considered "impossible" materials. He described how these combine into a "unique, tiny sandwich" structure that may spark further investigations in quantum physics.

The research explores quantum mechanics, focusing on the interface where the materials meet. "This work provides a new way to design entirely new artificial two-dimensional quantum materials," said Chakhalian, emphasizing its potential in quantum technologies.

Chakhalian's lab, using a specially built probe named Q-DiP, contributed significantly to the research. The probe, representative of an instrumental advance, allows material construction at an atomic level. Three Rutgers students, Michael Terilli, Tsung-Chi Wu, and Dorothy Doughty, played key roles in this advancement.

The dysprosium titanate layer, known as spin ice, exhibits unique properties enabling the emergence of magnetic monopoles. Meanwhile, pyrochlore iridate contains Weyl fermions, exotic particles with strong electronic properties. Both contribute to the hybrid material’s potential in quantum computing and sensors.

"The probe is unique in the U.S. and represents a breakthrough," Chakhalian noted. He expressed excitement over the possible applications in advanced technologies, saying, "This study is a big step forward in material synthesis."

The research promises to impact areas such as quantum computing, which applies quantum mechanics principles to information processing. Quantum computing could revolutionize various fields, improving efficiencies in drug discovery, manufacturing, and artificial intelligence.