American physicists have observed a state of matter never seen before, which could open the way to a new generation of computers, capable of resisting extreme conditions of space. This discovery, as fascinating as it is promising, could upset the technologies of the future.
A material born under extreme conditions
What if the key to a computer capable of working without interruption for years in space came from a strange material synthesized in the laboratory? This is the now credible hypothesis thanks to work carried out by a team from the University of California in Irvine, which has just revealed the existence of a new state of quantum matter. This phenomenon, so far only predicted by theory, has been observed for the first time in a material called Pentatelluride of Hafnium.
This advance was made possible by subjecting the material to extreme magnetic fields, reaching 70 teslas – about 700 times more than the magnetic field of a refrigerator magnet. Under this constraint, the properties of the material have changed spectacularly, marking the transition to a completely unprecedented phase.
A quantum fluid of a new kind
In this new phase, electrons no longer circulate freely as in a classic metal. They associate themselves with their positive equivalents, called holes, to form couples baptized excitons. What makes this phase even more singular is that the electrons and the holes run in the same direction – a behavior never observed so far.
This excitement liquid acts as a coherent material, a bit like a superfluid, but on the scale of quantum particles. According to the researchers, if this material could be held in the hand, it would emit intense light at high frequency. A striking image to illustrate the highly energetic and unstable nature of this state.
A track for the electronics of the future
But beyond the fundamental prowess, this discovery opens up considerable technological perspectives. One of the most promising concerns the spintronic, an area of research which aims to use the spin of electrons-that is to say their magnetic moment-rather than their charge to transport the information. This would make it possible to develop faster, more compact and much more energy -efficient devices than current electronic circuits.
Even more revolutionary: this new state seems insensitive to radiation, a major problem in space. Cosmic radiation can seriously damage traditional electronic components. This material could resist without weakening, making possible autonomous and lasting computers for the most ambitious space missions, especially those aimed at Mars or beyond.
Professor Luis Jauregui, of the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of California in Irvine, explained that the new material developed by him and his laboratory only exists in their laboratories. Credit: Steve Zylius / University of California in Irvine
A technology cut for space
It is precisely this robustness in the face of radiation that enthuses researchers. To explore the solar system, on -board computers must operate under extreme conditions, without human maintenance. However, the classic components quickly age under the effect of cosmic radiation. This new stable and resistant quantum state could therefore become a key element of space electronics, in particular for the long -term missions envisaged by NASA or SpaceX.
« If you want to send computers to the distant space, it may be this material you need Summates Luis Jauregui, principal researcher of the study.
A world first, the fruit of collective work
The material was designed and synthesized to UC Irvine by post-doctorator Jinyu Liu and his team. Experiences with extreme magnetic fields were carried out in two specialized laboratories: the National Los Alamos laboratory in New Mexico and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida. The theoretical interpretation was provided by LANL physicists.
This is only the start
For the moment, this new state of matter remains observed under extreme conditions, which are difficult to reproducible on a large scale. But as often in fundamental physics, these are the first stones of a building that could, tomorrow, transform our relationship to technology.
This type of discovery shows how much research on exotic materials remains a fertile terrain for future revolutions, not only in computer science, but also in the fields of energy, communications or spatial exploration. At a time when the conquest of Mars is preparing, this bright and elusive material could well become an unexpected ally of humanity.
