An FSU team has shown the conditions necessary to stabilize a phase of matter in which electrons exist in a solid crystalline lattice but can “melt” into a liquid state, known as a generalized Wigner crystal. These crystals had been previously identified, but it wasn’t clear how these unique states come about. “We determined which ‘quantum knobs’ to turn to trigger this phase transition and achieve a generalized Wigner crystal,” says Hitesh Changlani.

The team also found that with the generalized Wigner crystal, some electrons remained frozen, while others began moving around the system as if in a pinball machine. “This pinball phase is a very exciting phase of matter … Some electrons want to freeze and others want to float around, which means that some are insulating and some are conducting electricity,” added Cyprian Lewandowski. Wigner crystals offer unique insights into quantum phases of matter and research in the areas has potential implications for quantum computing and spintronics.

• Hitesh Changlani
• Cyprian Lewandowski