Heavy fermions entangled: Quantum computing's new frontier?

Osaka, Japan - A joint research team from Japan has observed "heavy fermions," electrons with dramatically enhanced mass, exhibiting quantum entanglement governed by the Planckian time – the fundamental unit of time in quantum mechanics. This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for harnessing this phenomenon in solid-state materials to develop a new type of quantum computer.

Heavy fermions arise when conduction electrons in a solid interact strongly with localized magnetic electrons, effectively increasing their mass. This phenomenon leads to unusual properties like unconventional superconductivity and is a central theme in condensed matter physics.  Cerium-Rhodium-Tin (CeRhSn), the material studied in this research, belongs to a class of heavy fermion systems with a quasi-kagome lattice structure, known for its geometrical frustration effects.

Researchers investigated the electronic state of CeRhSn, known for exhibiting non-Fermi liquid behavior at relatively high temperatures. Precise measurements of CeRhSn's reflectance spectra revealed non-Fermi liquid behavior persisting up to near room temperature, with heavy electron lifetimes approaching the Planckian limit. The observed spectral behavior, describable by a single function, strongly indicates that heavy electrons in CeRhSn are quantum entangled.

Dr. Shin-ichi Kimura of The University of Osaka, who led the research, explains, “Our findings demonstrate that heavy fermions in this quantum critical state are indeed entangled, and this entanglement is controlled by the Planckian time.  This direct observation is a significant step towards understanding the complex interplay between quantum entanglement and heavy fermion behavior.”

Quantum entanglement is a key resource for quantum computing, and the ability to control and manipulate it in solid-state materials like CeRhSn offers a potential pathway towards novel quantum computing architectures.  The Planckian time limit observed in this study provides crucial information for designing such systems.  Further research into these entangled states could revolutionize quantum information processing and unlock new possibilities in quantum technologies. This discovery not only advances our understanding of strongly correlated electron systems but also paves the way for potential applications in next-generation quantum technologies.

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The article, “Anisotropic Non-Fermi Liquid and Dynamical Planckian Scaling of a Quasi-Kagome Kondo Lattice System,” was published in npj Quantum Materials at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41535-025-00797-w.

About The University of Osaka

The University of Osaka was founded in 1931 as one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and is now one of Japan's leading comprehensive universities with a broad disciplinary spectrum. This strength is coupled with a singular drive for innovation that extends throughout the scientific process, from fundamental research to the creation of applied technology with positive economic impacts. Its commitment to innovation has been recognized in Japan and around the world. Now, The University of Osaka is leveraging its role as a Designated National University Corporation selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to contribute to innovation for human welfare, sustainable development of society, and social transformation.

Website: https://resou.osaka-u.ac.jp/en