Physorg January 15, 2018
In flat materials held at very low temperatures and subjected to extremely strong magnets electrons zipping around start to get locked into tight circular orbits of particular sizes and energies. A team of researchers in the US (City University of New York, NIST, University of Maryland) proposes using laser light to prod electrons into jumping between orbits of different energies. As a result, the interactions between the electrons change and lead to a different dance pattern. The intensity and frequency of the light alter the number of electrons in specific orbits, providing an easy way to control the electrons’ performance. Some may even spawn exotic quantum particles that could collaborate to remain protected from noise—a tantalizing idea that could be useful in the quest to build robust quantum computers… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Scientists have suggested a way to make electrons in graphene take on entirely new quantum behaviors. Credit: N. Beier/JQI and S. Kelley/JQI