An international team of researchers which includes the CNR-SPIN, the University of Salerno, the University of Geneva and the University of Delft has uncovered new quantum effects that can control the dynamics of electrons. The discovery of the physical laws underlying these particular properties could be used for the development of new magnetic sensors integrated with optoelectronic devices of interest for sixth generation (6G) wireless networks.
The electrons of an isolated atom are characterized by two fundamental quantum properties: the spin - the intrinsic property at the basis of magnetism - and the orbital - the spatial charge distribution due to the electric field of the nucleus. Inside a material, the electrons of the atom behave like waves that deform the geometric structure of a space that is purely quantum.
The theoretical research group which, in addition to Dr. Mario Cuoco of the Salerno unit of the CNR SPIN institute, includes Prof. Carmine Ortix, Dr. Maria Teresa Mercaldo, and Prof. Canio Noce of the University of Salerno, predicted the existence of a geometric structure of quantum space characterized by two different geometric curvatures: one relating to the spin and the other to the orbital of the electrons.
The team of researchers in Ginevra and Delft has created an artificial structure of two oxides - lanthanum aluminate and strontium titanate - at the interface of which a triangular lattice has been created: an essential condition for the presence of the uncovered curvatures of the quantum space. To reveal the curvature associated with the spin, the researchers performed very low-temperature measurements of an effect called the planar Hall effect, which underpins various magnetic sensors. The presence of the "orbital" curvature was instead demonstrated by looking at a specific non-linear electrical process of great importance for the harvesting and conversion of electromagnetic energy.
The next step for the research group is to discover the control mechanisms and new materials where the quantum effects related to the two curvatures can be observed at room temperature, and thus to explore all the application potential of materials with multiform quantum properties.
The research results have been published in the journal Nature Materials.
