Overview
- TU Wien experiments near absolute zero detected an anomalous Hall signal without any external magnetic field, a hallmark of topological behavior.
- The topological response peaks where quantum fluctuations are strongest and vanishes when those fluctuations are suppressed by pressure or magnetic fields.
- The team names the phase an emergent topological semimetal, indicating topological order can exist beyond the usual quasiparticle picture.
- Theoretical work led by Rice University developed a model that unifies quantum criticality with topology and explains the observations.
- The results, published in Nature Physics, point to quantum-critical materials as a practical search route for discovering new topological phases with potential use in quantum technologies and low-power electronics.