A breakthrough study published in Nature Communications has shed new light on the mysterious behavior of strange metals, which defy conventional rules of electricity and magnetism. Physicists at Rice University used a tool from quantum information science to unravel the secrets of these enigmatic materials.
The researchers discovered that electrons in strange metals become more entangled at a critical point, a phenomenon known as quantum criticality. This peak entanglement sheds new light on the behavior of these materials and has potential implications for advancing superconductors.
Unlike conventional metals, strange metals exhibit complex behavior that makes their inner workings difficult to describe. The researchers used quantum Fisher information (QFI) to measure how electron interactions evolve under extreme conditions. Their findings reveal a unique entanglement pattern in strange metals, which offers a new lens to understand their exotic behavior.
The study demonstrates how applying quantum information tools can be applied to other exotic materials. Strange metals could play a role in future quantum technologies, where enhanced entanglement is a valuable resource. The research provides a new framework for characterizing complex materials by showing when entanglement peaks.
This discovery has the potential to transform energy use in the future, as it could lead to advances in superconductors with the potential to transmit electricity without energy loss. The researchers’ work paves the way for further exploration of these mysterious materials and their unique properties.
References:
Yuan Fang et al, Amplified multipartite entanglement witnessed in a quantum critical metal, Nature Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57778-7
Journal information: Nature Communications
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-03-quantum-entanglement-reveals-strange-metals.html