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AB-stacked bilayer graphene has emerged as a fascinating yet simple platform for exploring macroscopic quantum phenomena of correlated electrons.Unexpectedly, a phase with negative dR/dT has recently been observed when a large electric displacement field is applied and the charge carrier density is tuned to the vicinity of an ultra-low-density van Hove singularity.This phase exhibits…
Wigner crystallization occurs at the zigzag edges of graphene at surprisingly high electronic densities up to 0.8 nm1. In contrast with one-dimensional electron gas, the flatband structure of the edge states makes the system interaction dominated, facilitating …
Physicists have consistently bent the rules of this game, finding new and unusual ways to alter properties of resistance or coordinate into exotic states.For these reasons, graphene has become a perfect playground to search for clues on low-resistance conductivity or test the boundaries of various quantum effects.
One such effect is a ’freezing’ of electrons into restricted positions, effectively turning them from a flowing liquid-like mass into something with structure. Known as a Wigner crystal,this phase of electrons has characteristic shapes and behaviors researchers thought they understood well.
In this run of experiments,the researchers twisted stacks of single-atom sheets of graphene in a way that forced the unbonded carbon atoms to align in what’s described as a moiré (pronounced mwa-ray) effect.
### Moiré Effects and Graphene
Moiré effects aren’t hard to find in our day-to-day world. Seen in stacks of mesh or screens, they appear as repeating lines, circles, or curves as contrasts in darkness and light making up the mesh combine or cancel.
Only in this case, the contrasting structures in the twisted graphene play havoc with the electron’s geometry, or what is referred to as the topology of its landscape. The result is a shift in the electron’s speed, with some even developing a twist as they move along the edges of the material.
“This leads to a paradoxical behaviour of the topological electronic crystal not seen in conventional Wigner crystals of the past – despite the crystal forming upon freezing electrons into an ordered array, it can nevertheless conduct electricity along its boundaries,” says Folk.
It’s in this bizarre new realm of electron behavior that strange activities emerge, such as the quantization of resistance known as the [quantum Hall effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_Hall_effect).
New states of topological activity like this are a potential gold mine for physicists keen to explore ways to create quantum computing units known as qubits that are more resistant than the conventional sorts based on essential particles.
Contorting narrow stacks of graphene into the electron equivalent of a Möbius strip might only be the start. Geometry on this scale is theorized to deliver a bizarre zoo of electron [quasiparticles](https://www.sciencealert.com/quasiparticles) with all kinds of twisted new physics.
This research was published in *Nature*.—
*Source: [Jynto/Wikimedia Commons/PD](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Graphene-3D-balls.png) / ScienceAlert*
Graphene Twisting Experiment Yields Surprising Electron States
Physicists have consistently bent the rules of this game, finding new adn unusual ways too alter properties of resistance or coordinate into exotic states. For these reasons, graphene has become a perfect playground to search for clues on low-resistance conductivity or test the boundaries of various quantum effects.
Editor: One such effect is a ‘freezing’ of electrons into restricted positions, effectively turning them from a flowing liquid-like mass into something with structure. Known as a Wigner crystal, this phase of electrons has characteristic shapes and behaviors researchers thought they understood well. How does this experiment differ from previous studies on Wigner crystals?
Guest: In this run of experiments, the researchers twisted stacks of single-atom sheets of graphene in a way that forced the unbonded carbon atoms to align in what’s described as a moiré (pronounced mwa-ray) effect. This moiré pattern essentially creates a new geometric landscape for the electrons to interact with, perhaps leading to new and unexpected states.
Editor: Can you elaborate on what researchers mean by moiré patterns and how they’re applied in this context?
Guest: Moiré effects aren’t hard to find in our day-to-day world. Seen in stacks of mesh or screens, they appear as repeating lines, circles, or curves as contrasts in darkness and light making up the mesh combine or cancel. In this graphene study, the contrasting structures in the twisted graphene play havoc with the electron’s geometry, altering the electrons’ behavior in significant ways.
Editor: What are the potential implications of these findings for the growth of quantum computing?
Guest: Contorting narrow stacks of graphene into the electron equivalent of a Möbius strip might only be the start. Geometry on this scale is theorized to deliver a bizarre zoo of electron quasiparticles with all kinds of twisted new physics. These peculiar states could potentially create more robust qubits, which are crucial for developing more stable quantum computing units.
Author: This research was published in Nature.
This research finding is significant as it explores novel low-resistance conductivity and quantum effects that may revolutionize the field of quantum computing.
