"Unleashing the Power of Quantum Avalanche: A Game-Changer for Microelectronics and Supercomputing"
A new study on insulator-to-metal transitions, known as resistive switching, has uncovered discrepancies in the traditional Landau-Zener formula and shed light on the quantum mechanics involved. By using computer simulations, researchers found that a relatively small electric field can trigger a collapse of the energy gap between the lower and upper bands of an insulator, allowing electrons to move between them. This insight could have potential applications in microelectronics and neuromorphic computing. The study also suggests that electronic and thermal switching can occur simultaneously, challenging the notion that they are exclusive mechanisms.