Magnetism‘s Unexpected Role in the Pseudogap Phase
Physicists have discovered a connection between magnetism and the pseudogap, a mysterious phase preceding superconductivity in certain quantum materials, potentially aiding the development of new high-temperature superconductors.
The finding stemmed from experiments utilizing a quantum simulator cooled to near absolute zero. Researchers observed a consistent pattern: as the system cooled, electrons influenced the magnetic orientation of neighboring electrons. This interaction, based on electron spin (up or down), dictates the material’s behavior. The research, a collaboration between the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and the Simons Foundation’s Flatiron Institute, marks progress toward understanding unconventional superconductivity.
The team published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on January 22, 2024. https://www.pnas.org/
the Challenge of Superconductivity
Superconductivity, the ability of a material to conduct electricity with zero resistance, has been a subject of intense research for decades due to its potential to revolutionize technologies like power transmission and quantum computing.However, a complete understanding of how superconductivity arises, particularly in high-temperature materials, remains elusive.
In many high-temperature superconductors,the transition to superconductivity isn’t direct from a normal metallic state. Instead, the material enters an intermediate phase called the pseudogap.During the pseudogap phase, electrons exhibit unusual behavior, and the number of available electronic states for current flow decreases. Consequently, understanding the pseudogap is considered crucial for unlocking the mechanisms behind superconductivity.