Scientists have identified a one-dimensional topological insulator that could revolutionize quantum computing and solar cell efficiency. This groundbreaking discovery paves the way for advancements in quantum computing and solar cell efficiency.
Scientists have identified a one-dimensional topological insulator that could revolutionize quantum computing and solar cell efficiency. This groundbreaking discovery paves the way for advancements in quantum computing and solar cell efficiency.
9 Comments
finickydesert@lemmy.ml · 49 pts · 2y
Can anyone ELI5?
yamaonan@lemmy.world · 49 pts · 2y
From what I gather, past insulator discoveries allowed electron flow in three or two dimensions, but this new discovery only allows flow in one dimension. I think of it like plumbing, where you have a tee, and the water (electrons) travel through the pipe in three directions (dimensions). Restricting the flow of electrons allows for better focus/flow, which makes for more precise electronic engineering methods.
An EE might be able to elaborate better than my crappy plumbing analogy.
catloaf@lemm.ee · 24 pts · 2y
Sort of, yeah. As I read it, in a regular conductor, electrons move around on the surface basically however they want. But we developed a process where on a 2D conductor, like a piece of aluminum foil, we could get the electrons to only move along the edges. Now they've extended that where, by making helical (spiral spring-shaped) strands of tellurium, they can make the electrons flow directionally along those helices. There's a pretty good illustration from the authors of the paper in the article.
If people say this is applicable to stuff like quantum computing and solar panels, I believe them, but I don't know enough to say how or why.
just_another_person@lemmy.world · 37 pts · 2y
It will make Quantum Computers less complex, and solar cells thinner and more dense.
some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org · 28 pts · 2y
I gave up halfway because I'm just not gonna understand, but this is very exciting news - at least it appears to be.
Dkarma@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 2y
They built a chain of tellurium instead of a cube or a sheet of it and cut it using a new very accurate technique to be 1 atom wide chain. They verified the endpoints are cut cleanly with radio image microscopy I think.
myrrh@ttrpg.network · 22 pts · 2y
paraphrand@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2y
You should check out The Three Body Problem too.
some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org · 2 pts · 2y
Once again, that's over my head. I appreciate you adding context. Thanks! I have slightly more understanding of what this means.
lung@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 2y
That's the best kind of science article. No catchy headline & too complicated even in a summary
MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 2y