Quantum systems don’t work effectively under normal conditions and typically require extremely low-temperature settings. This is because, at higher temperatures, thermal energy can disrupt quantum states, causing decoherence or loss of the desired quantum effects.
However, scientists are developing superconductors to make quantum systems work at higher temperatures. This is crucial for adopting quantum technology on a large scale.
A team of researchers from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland has made a significant breakthrough in this direction. Using a Kagome superconductor (RbV3Sb5), they have achieved time-reversal symmetry (TRS) breaking at 175 Kelvin (-144.67 °F or -98 °C).
“Our research identifies a kagome superconductor RbV3Sb5 as the system with the highest TRS breaking temperature, reaching ≃ 175 K,” the study authors note.
This temperature may sound freezing cold to you but it’s actually hot for quantum phenomena such as TRS breaking which usually occurs at -351.67 °F.
To read more, click here.