Quantum Researchers Develop "Huge" Distortion Material

Scientists at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University have developed a novel quantum material, the atomic framework of which has been drastically distorted into a herringbone pattern by an electronic tug-of-war between its layers caused by the Jahn-Teller effect. The distortions resulting from this material are “huge” compared to those in other materials, and the resulting lattice distortions are equal to 25% of the distance between ions in the lattice. The researchers plan to investigate the material's intriguing magnetic, orbital, and charge order properties further, which could result in unique features.