MIT physicists observe quantum electrons rebuild phases in a material

MIT physicists are directly observing how electrons rebuild phases within the rare-earth material erbium tritelluride, revealing a surprising parallel to everyday phenomena like ice and water coexisting in a glass. The research team used “pump” and “probe” laser beams to watch photoemitted electrons assemble and reassemble into distinct, overlapping patterns. This ability to study multiple phases, as reported in Nature Physics, could illuminate the emergence of superconductivity and aid in the design of advanced quantum devices. “People believe the cornerstone of replacing silicon lies in quantum materials that have multiple coexisting phases,” says co-author Alfred Zong PhD ’20, now an assistant professor at Stanford University. Researchers led by Nuh Gedik at MIT detailed observations of this behavior, reporting their findings in Nature Physics…