Electrons slow to a crawl in a strange new quantum state

What happened

They found that it can enter a charge-ordered state where large numbers of electrons move together extremely slowly while still maintaining quantum coherence. Scientists at the University of Chicago have uncovered a surprising quantum state in the layered magnetic material Fe5GeTe2, where huge numbers of electrons move together unusually slowly while remaining quantum coherent.

Science News from research organizations Electrons slow to a crawl in a strange new quantum state Date: October 1, 2026 Source: University of Chicago Summary: Scientists at the University of Chicago have uncovered a surprising quantum state in the layered magnetic material Fe5GeTe2, where huge numbers of electrons move together unusually slowly while remaining quantum coherent. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Over the past decade, scientists have made major progress in creating two-dimensional materials with unusual quantum properties that could eventually support a new generation of technologies. Some of these materials can become superconductors, allowing electricity to flow without energy loss, while others develop charge orders, in which electrons settle into organized patterns instead of moving freely.