Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Recent research suggests that the chiral Bose-liquid state could be a completely new form of matter.
- Typically, matter exists in solid, liquid, or gas states. However, at extremely low temperatures or within the quantum realm, matter behaves differently.
About Quantum states of matter:
- Quantum states of matter exhibit unique behaviours distinct from our familiar solid, liquid, and gaseous states.
- Frustrated quantum systems, in particular, involve the interactions of particles leading to infinite possibilities. In these systems, collisions can produce unexpected outcomes, such as levitating or defying traditional angles.
How it was formed:
The chiral bose-liquid state is formed by bringing two layers of a special material very close together at very low temperatures (close to absolute Zero). One layer has an abundance of electrons, while the other layer has “holes” where electrons can go. When these layers are brought together, a local imbalance is created, causing electrons to not have enough holes to fill. This imbalance triggers the formation of the chiral bose-liquid state, which has unique properties and behaviours.
This unique state allows electrons to freeze into predictable patterns, exhibit resilience to changes in spin (a characteristic of subatomic particles), and synchronize their movements.
Why it is called ‘Chiral’?
The term “chiral” refers to a property in physics where an object or system cannot be superimposed onto its mirror image. In the context of the chiral bose-liquid state, the term “chiral” is used because the electrons in the chiral bose-liquid state move or behave differently compared to their mirror-image counterparts, leading to unique and asymmetric characteristics.
Application: The state could be useful for encryption technology in the future.
