Quantum physics just took a leap from theory to reality! Empa researchers have, for the first time, successfully built a long-theorized one-dimensional alternating Heisenberg model using synthetic nanographenes.
By precisely shaping these tiny carbon structures, they’ve unlocked new ways to manipulate quantum states, confirming century-old predictions. This breakthrough could be a stepping stone toward real-world quantum technologies, from ultra-fast computing to unbreakable encryption.
In 2024, researchers at Empa, along with their partners, achieved a major milestone in quantum physics by successfully creating a one-dimensional alternating Heisenberg model using a synthetic material. This theoretical model, first proposed nearly a century ago, describes a linear chain of spins – fundamental to understanding quantum magnetism. Now, led by Roman Fasel, head of Empa’s nanotech@surfaces laboratory, the team has gone a step further, constructing a related spin chain model for the first time in a laboratory setting.
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