Topological phases of matter constitute a research area in condensed matter physics that studies quantum states distinguished by global, topological properties rather than local order parameters and symmetry breaking. This field investigates phases characterized by topological invariants (e.g., Chern numbers, Z₂ indices), robust edge or surface states, and phenomena such as quantized transport and anyonic excitations. Research focuses on topological insulators, superconductors, and semimetals, the role of symmetries and topology in band structures, and strongly correlated topological phases. It combines methods from quantum field theory, band theory, topology, and numerical many-body techniques, with implications for fault-tolerant quantum computation and novel electronic functionalities.
Topological phases are unusual states of matter that give rise to properties protected by a material's overall structure (i.e., "topology"), as opposed to microscopic details. These phases are of great interest for the development ...
Imagine a laptop that never gets hot, a phone that holds its charge for days, or a computer memory chip designed to permanently retain data, even when the power goes out. This is the possibility sitting inside a remarkable ...
Condensed Matter
May 17, 2026
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Insulators are materials in which electrons cannot move freely. Past theoretical studies predicted the existence of an unusual insulating state dubbed obstructed atomic insulator (OAI), in which electrons are localized inside ...
Quantum geometry describes quantum states in systems with changing system parameters, such as an electron spinning in a magnetic field whose direction is slowly changing. The state of the electron evolves, and this change ...
Optics & Photonics
May 6, 2026
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With a carefully designed experiment and a handful of tin atoms, University of Tennessee, Knoxville's physicists have found a long-sought form of superconductivity, taking one more step toward creating custom quantum materials.
Superconductivity
Apr 29, 2026
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A research team led by Prof. Hao Ning of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Anhui University and the University of Science and Technology of China, has identified ...
Superconductivity
Apr 29, 2026
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It was a head-spinning discovery. In 2018, researchers in Japan claimed to find concrete evidence of an elusive particle, a Majorana fermion, in a quantum spin liquid called ruthenium trichloride. Majoranas are highly sought-after ...
Condensed Matter
Apr 22, 2026
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A Majorana fermion is a particle that would be identical to its antiparticle. Such an object has not yet been found. However, certain solid materials exhibit analogous behavior as if Majorana fermions were present through ...
Condensed Matter
Apr 11, 2026
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Quantum states are notoriously fragile, and can be destroyed simply through interactions, measurements, and exposure to their surrounding environments. In a new theoretical study published in Physical Review X, Rohan Mittal ...
Researchers at the Würzburg site of the Cluster of Excellence ctd.qmat have succeeded in transferring the topological quantum Hall and spin Hall effects to a hybrid light-matter system by harnessing targeted material design. ...
Optics & Photonics
Mar 27, 2026
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