Quantum Twisting Microscope Unveils Secrets of Graphene Superconductivity

Quantum Twisting Microscope Unveils Secrets of Graphene Superconductivity

Date: April 23, 2025 | By: Quantum Server Networks

Graphene Atomic Structure

Scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science have unveiled a groundbreaking microscope capable of capturing the quantum behaviors of atoms in twisted graphene—an achievement that opens up new frontiers in understanding superconductivity and quantum materials.

A Quantum Leap in Microscopy

Dubbed the Quantum Twisting Microscope (QTM), this novel instrument allows researchers to peer into the complex interplay between electrons and lattice vibrations—known as phonons—within materials just atoms thick. A recent paper in Nature describes how the QTM, operating at cryogenic temperatures, has for the first time imaged a rare type of lattice vibration called a phason.

This discovery is particularly exciting for the study of twisted bilayer graphene—a form of graphene where two sheets are overlaid at a small, specific "magic" angle. At this angle, the material exhibits exotic quantum behaviors, including superconductivity without resistance and "strange metallicity." The QTM enables direct visualization of how these behaviors arise at the atomic level.

What Makes the QTM Unique?

Using a van der Waals material as a quantum interferometer tip, the QTM captures inelastic tunneling events where electrons emit phonons. By tuning voltage bias and twist angles, scientists can reconstruct the full phonon energy spectrum and quantify electron-phonon coupling strength—a feat that has eluded researchers for decades.

According to Dr. John Birkbeck, co-author of the study, "Our microscope quantitatively reveals how electrons interact with each phonon mode individually, providing unprecedented insight into electron–phonon dynamics."

Why It Matters

The ability to study individual phonon modes and their interaction with electrons is critical for designing future quantum technologies, including superconductors, quantum sensors, and ultra-efficient transistors. Moreover, this method may help uncover new collective excitations like plasmons, magnons, and spinons.

Read the full article here: https://phys.org/news/2025-04-microscope-reveals-quantum-atoms-graphene.html

More Than Just Microscopy

The QTM isn’t just a scientific tool—it’s a key to decoding the fundamental forces shaping our material world. As materials research enters the quantum era, instruments like this are pivotal to discovering entirely new classes of quantum materials and phenomena.

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