Researchers reveal a novel metal where electrons flow with fluid-like dynamics

Phys.org  September 6, 2021 An international team of researchers (USA -Boston College, Florida State University, UT Dallas, Switzerland) found that a strong interaction between electrons and phonons alters the transport of electrons from the diffusive, or particle-like, to hydrodynamic, or fluid-like, regime in a synthesis of Niobium and Germanium (NbGe2). Electrical resistivity measurements showed a higher-than-expected mass for electrons, and X-ray diffraction revealed the crystal structure of the material. The mass of electrons in all trajectories was three times larger than the expected value. The strong electron-phonon interaction was responsible for the heavy electron behavior. In future work the team […]