MIT physicists observe quantum electrons building competing phases in a material

MIT physicists have directly observed subtle red stripe patches forming alongside uniform blue stripes within a quantum material, revealing the coexistence of two distinct electron order phases. Using “pump” and “probe” laser beams, the researchers tracked emitted electrons in erbium tritelluride, a rare-earth material, to understand these phases. Published in Nature Physics, the study draws a parallel to ice water existing as both liquid and solid to explain this complex duality at the quantum level. “People believe the cornerstone of replacing silicon lies in quantum materials that have multiple coexisting phases,” says co-author Alfred Zong, and this research provides a new method for studying them, potentially unlocking control over electronic behavior for high-performance quantum devices. Erbium tritelluride exhibits a surprising duality at the quantum level; within this material, electrons spontaneously organize into two distinct wave-like patterns simultaneously. Researchers at MIT, led by Nuh…