Electrons on Topological Chiral Crystals (2-D) (IMAGE)
Caption
This image shows how the electrons are distributed on the surfaces of topological chiral crystals. The extended threads along the diagonal are the 'Fermi arc' quantum states revealing the topological behavior of the electrons. The surface Fermi arc is a property that defines topological conductivity -- related to the electrical conductivity of the material's surface -- which in these topological chiral crystals was about 100 times larger than that observed in previously identified topological metals. Context: Princeton physicist Zahid Hasan led an international team of physicists who have discovered a form of chiral crystals -- crystals with an asymmetry like biological "handedness" -- that host slow light-like massless electrons. The movement of some groups of electrons in these crystals mimics the behavior of magnetic monopoles. These strange properties may be utilized for next-generation quantum, magnetic and optical technologies.
Credit
Hasan Lab, Princeton University
Usage Restrictions
Editorial use only
License
Licensed content