Liquid-crystal-like magnetism explains puzzling properties in a rare-earth compound

Quantum Technology

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Phys.org • October 8, 2026

Researchers led by Pengcheng Dai at Rice University discovered that quantum spins in the rare-earth compound YbMnBi₂ behave like molecules in a liquid crystal. In this state, spins favor a specific direction without forming large-scale magnetic order. This phenomenon was observed when the team fired neutron beams at crystals of YbMnBi₂ and a related calcium compound to measure spin fluctuations under varying temperatures and magnetic fields.

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Layered semiconductor unlocks magnetic control of light emitted by quantum condensates

Quantum Technology

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Phys.org • October 8, 2026

Researchers have developed a method to control light emitted by quantum condensates using the magnetic properties of a new layered semiconductor called chromium sulfide bromide (CrSBr). Unlike traditional semiconductors that require extreme cooling, this material allows exciton–polaritons to form at moderate temperatures. Exciton–polaritons are hybrid states created when electron-hole pairs, known as excitons, couple with light in an optical resonator. This coupling reduces their effective mass, enabling them to move in lockstep and form a macroscopic quantum state that emits coherent light.

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How researchers tell different quantum excitations apart in individual molecules

Quantum Technology

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Phys.org • October 8, 2026

Dr. Arnab Banerjee and his colleagues faced a challenge when studying individual cobaltocene molecules using tunneling spectroscopy. The measured spectra displayed confusing signals caused by various excitations, making it difficult to determine which specific process created each measurement signal because theoretical models were unreliable. To solve this, the team placed the molecules on a lead surface that becomes superconducting at very low temperatures and used a scanning tunneling microscope with a metallic tip positioned extremely close to the molecule to allow electrons to cross the tiny gap.

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Superconducting circuit links smaller photon groups into larger entangled states

Quantum Technology

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Phys.org • October 9, 2026

Researchers at Tsinghua University and the Hefei National Laboratory recently introduced a new strategy to link smaller groups of microwave photons into larger entangled states. This work, published in *Nature Physics*, aims to create adjustable graph states, which are mathematical networks describing connections between qubits used in quantum computing. The team utilized superconducting circuits, materials that allow electrical current to flow with zero resistance at specific low temperatures, to generate these photon groups.

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Physicists identify ‘octupolar’ magnetism, with implications for quantum technologies

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Phys.org • September 30, 2026

Physicists at the University of Toronto have discovered a way to detect "octupolar" magnetism, a complex magnetic state featuring eight poles instead of the usual two found in standard magnets. While most magnets operate as simple dipoles with north and south poles, this new form of order was previously invisible to conventional measurement tools. The research team led by Professor Arun Paramekanti developed a method using light to observe atomic vibrations caused by spinning electrons, marking a critical first step toward applying these states in future data storage and computing technologies.

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Zinc oxide quantum dots enable faster charge detection, laying groundwork for spin qubits

Quantum Technology

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Phys.org • September 30, 2026

Researchers at Tohoku University, the National Institute for Materials Science, and the University of Tokyo have successfully demonstrated charge sensing and high-frequency reflectometry using zinc oxide quantum dots. This work, published in Physical Review Applied, addresses a major challenge in semiconductor quantum computing: rapidly detecting electron charge states in materials like zinc oxide that differ from traditional silicon or gallium arsenide.

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3D light fields push electrons into quantum states previously beyond experimental reach

Quantum Technology

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Phys.org • September 30, 2026

Physicists at the University of Oldenburg have created three-dimensional light fields by superimposing two ultrashort laser pulses that converge from different directions. This technique allows them to excite electrons into quantum states that were previously impossible to reach in experiments. Dr. Matthias Wollenhaupt, who leads the research team, explains that their method generates electronic quantum states that existed only in theory and makes them spatially visible.

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First observation of quantum spins shifting a centimeter-scale object in the lab

Quantum Technology

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Phys.org • October 7, 2026

Researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) have achieved a breakthrough by moving a levitating, centimeter-wide diamond using only the force generated by electron spin. This marks the first time a quantum effect has been observed directly manipulating an object subject to gravity. Professor Jason Twamley notes that previous attempts to test quantum mechanics on objects larger than a few tens of nanometers have failed. Their experiment involved an object eight to nine orders of magnitude more massive than prior state-of-the-art spin-mechanical experiments, setting a new baseline for studying the boundary between classical and quantum physics.

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Levitating glass sphere becomes entangled with light at room temperature

Quantum Technology

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Phys.org • October 7, 2026

Physicists are working to link objects using quantum entanglement, a phenomenon where particles become so deeply connected that their properties cannot be described independently. This connection is fragile and usually requires cooling experiments to near absolute zero to prevent environmental disturbances from breaking the link. However, a team led by Francesco Marin at the University of Florence has achieved entanglement between a tiny levitating glass sphere and light at room temperature, publishing their findings in *Science*.

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Acoustic experiments confirm topology can persist at gapless critical points

Quantum Technology

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Phys.org, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

Phys.org • October 7, 2026

Two recent studies published in the journal Nature confirm that topological properties can persist even when a material’s energy gap closes at a critical point. This discovery challenges the long-held view that topology requires an energy gap to exist. The research was led by teams of Prof. Baile Zhang at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and Prof. Jianhua Jiang at the University of Science and Technology of China. Prof. Xue-Jia Yu from the Eastern Institute of Technology in Ningbo served as a co-corresponding author on both papers and provided key theoretical guidance for the experimental collaborations.

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