Quantum “Tornadoes” in Semimetal Could Revolutionize Electronics

Physicists in Germany have demonstrated that electron inertia can create “tornadoes” inside a quantum semimetal, revealing a new layer of complexity in electron motion.

Electrons rarely stay still, and their movements can take unexpected forms. In tantalum arsenide, a quantum material, researchers found that electrons form vortices—not in physical space, but in momentum space, a quantum realm describing their energy and direction rather than their location.

While similar vortices have been observed in real space, this is the first time they have been mapped in momentum space. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), the team measured electron momenta and compiled 2D snapshots into a 3D model, much like a CT scan. The final image revealed a striking vortex pattern.

Mapping Quantum Tornadoes: How ARPES Reveals Electron Vortices in Momentum Space

“ARPES lets us extract electrons from a material, measure their energy and angle, and directly visualize their structure in momentum space,” explained Maximilian Ünzelmann, an experimental physicist at the University of Würzburg. By refining the technique, the researchers were able to measure orbital angular momentum and confirm the presence of quantum tornadoes.

This discovery could pave the way for a new class of electronic devices. A field called “orbitronics” may harness these twisting electron motions to carry information, potentially complementing spintronics, which relies on electron spin. Further research could lead to more efficient electronics and entirely new technologies.

Read Original Article: Science Alert

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