An international team has found that quantum oscillations can arise from the bulk of an insulator, not just its surface.
The discovery exposes a new frontier where materials can act like metals under extreme magnetic fields.
Credit: AI/ScienceDaily.com
Researchers have discovered quantum oscillations inside an insulating material, overturning long-held assumptions. Their work at the National Magnetic Field Laboratory suggests that the effect originates in the material’s bulk rather than its surface. The finding points toward a “new duality” in materials science—where compounds may behave as both metals and insulators—offering a fascinating puzzle for future research.
Lu Li, a physicist who studies advanced materials, knows that people often want to hear how his research could lead to new technologies or practical breakthroughs. But sometimes, what he uncovers is so unusual that its value lies purely in revealing how strange the universe can be.
