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September 1, 2020

Topological magnet exhibits exotic quantum effects

Princeton University researchers have discovered a topological magnet that exhibits exotic quantum effects. In this schematic, arrows represent the electron spins pointing up from a kagome lattice (intersecting webs of "corner-sharing triangles"). The chirality is represented by the counterclockwise circle of fire, which represents the propagating electrons/current on the edge of the magnet. The two cones demonstrate that the bulk of the magnet contains Dirac fermions (linear or conical dispersion of bands) with an energy gap (Chern gap), making it topological.

[Research supported by U.S. National Science Foundation grants DMR 1420541 and DGE 1656466.]

Learn more about this research in the Princeton University news story Princeton scientists discover a topological magnet that exhibits exotic quantum effects. (Date image taken: March 14, 2020; date originally posted to NSF Multimedia Gallery: Sept. 1, 2020)

Credit: M. Zahid Hasan, Jia-Xin Yin, Princeton University


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