According to Nature, researchers have discovered that kagome crystals exhibit quantum interference effects that persist over macroscopic distances spanning several micrometers, remaining robust up to a transition temperature T’. The study of CsVSb crystals revealed field-periodic oscillations in interlayer magnetoconductance with a universal h/e periodicity that combines atomic-scale interlayer spacing (approximately 9 Å) with macroscopic device widths ranging from 1 to 3 micrometers. These oscillations, observed at 2 K and above, demonstrate sensitivity to in-plane confinement over distances greater than 3 μm and exhibit a notable switching behavior in their angular dependence. The findings suggest a macroscopically coherent collective electronic state with coherence properties reminiscent of superconductivity but without a dissipationless condensate. This discovery opens new avenues for understanding quantum coherence in solid-state systems.
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Table of Contents
The Unique Physics of Kagome Lattices
The kagome lattice structure represents one of the most fascinating geometries in condensed matter physics, characterized by its corner-sharing triangles that create both frustration and unique electronic properties. What makes this discovery particularly significant is that previous studies of kagome materials have focused primarily on their two-dimensional properties, including flat bands and topological states. The observation of coherent transport across multiple layers suggests that the interlayer coupling in these materials hosts previously unrecognized quantum phenomena. Unlike conventional superconductors where coherence emerges from pairing mechanisms, this system appears to maintain coherence through a different, yet-to-be-understood mechanism that survives despite the material’s complex charge-ordered state below T’.
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Technical Innovations Behind the Discovery
The ability to detect these subtle quantum effects required overcoming substantial experimental challenges. The researchers’ use of focused ion beam machining to create precisely aligned pillars represents a significant advancement in sample preparation techniques. More importantly, the suspension of devices on soft SiN membranes to avoid strain effects highlights how sensitive these quantum states are to environmental perturbations. This sensitivity to strain likely explains why such effects haven’t been observed in bulk crystal measurements previously. The fact that conventional substrate-supported devices suppressed the oscillations underscores how delicate these quantum coherent states can be and suggests that many quantum materials might host similar hidden phenomena that current measurement techniques cannot detect.
Beyond Conventional Quantum Coherence
The persistence of quantum coherence over micrometer scales in a non-superconducting state challenges our fundamental understanding of how quantum effects manifest at the macroscopic scale. What’s particularly remarkable is that these interference patterns survive despite the material undergoing charge ordering transitions that typically disrupt quantum coherence. The observed oscillations following universal h/e periodicity rather than material-specific Shubnikov-de Haas behavior indicates this phenomenon originates from a more fundamental quantum process. This suggests we might be observing a new class of quantum coherent state that doesn’t fit neatly into existing categories of superconductivity, charge density waves, or other known collective electronic states.
Potential Applications and Future Directions
The robustness of these quantum interference effects under applied magnetic fields and their persistence across macroscopic distances opens intriguing possibilities for quantum technologies. If such coherent states can be stabilized and controlled, they could provide new platforms for quantum information processing that don’t require the extreme conditions of conventional superconductors. The fact that these effects appear in a vanadium-based kagome material suggests they might be more widespread than currently recognized, potentially existing in other transition metal compounds with similar lattice structures. However, significant challenges remain in understanding the microscopic origin of this coherence and developing methods to manipulate it for practical applications.
Impact on Condensed Matter Physics
This discovery forces a reconsideration of how we define and detect quantum coherence in solid-state systems. The traditional dichotomy between microscopic quantum phenomena and classical macroscopic behavior appears more nuanced in these kagome materials. The observation that the relevant length scale involves nearest-neighbor interlayer spacing rather than the reconstructed charge-ordered superstructure suggests that fundamental quantum processes can persist even when materials undergo complex electronic reorganizations. This could have implications for understanding other correlated electron systems where multiple electronic orders coexist, potentially revealing new pathways for engineering quantum materials with tailored coherence properties.
