quantummaterial

Quantum materials are materials in which quantum-mechanical effects dominate the behavior of macroscopic properties. They often host strongly interacting electrons, and their properties arise from collective phenomena rather than single-particle pictures. The term quantum material, sometimes written quantummaterial, describes systems in which quantum behavior governs macroscopic properties.

Common examples include topological insulators, quantum spin liquids, unconventional superconductors, Dirac and Weyl semimetals, and moiré materials such as twisted bilayer graphene. These systems can exhibit robust edge states, fractional excitations, or superconductivity emerging from electron correlations.

Many quantum materials are realized in solid-state compounds, particularly transition metal oxides, heavy fermion systems, and layered van der Waals materials. Researchers also design artificial quantum materials by stacking two-dimensional layers, applying strain, or tuning carrier density with gating or pressure.

Characterization relies on techniques such as angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, transport measurements, neutron scattering, and optical probes to reveal band structure, magnetic order, and excitations.

Theoretical descriptions use quantum many-body theory, lattice models (for example, the Hubbard or Kitaev models), and concepts from topology and quantum information, including Berry phase, entanglement, and topological order. The field emphasizes emergent phenomena not evident in noninteracting electrons.

Quantum materials underpin research in condensed matter physics and materials science and hold potential for applications in quantum computing, energy-efficient electronics, and sensitive detectors. The field is rapidly evolving, with ongoing work to discover new materials, understand their behavior, and translate discoveries into devices.