Breakthrough in Quantum Magnetism – FUNLAYERS Research Published in Nature Materials

FUNLAYERS-supported study unveils new method to measure quantum excitations in atomic chains, paving the way for advances in atomic-scale magnetic materials

Researchers supported by the FUNLAYERS project have achieved a significant breakthrough in the study of quantum materials, successfully demonstrating an unprecedented level of control in measuring quantum excitations in atomic spin chains. Their findings, now published in Nature Materials, provide new insights into the fundamental physics of spin interactions and could have major implications for the development of novel magnetic materials at the atomic scale.

Unravelling a Long-Standing Quantum Mystery

The research focuses on a theoretical model central to quantum physics: the Heisenberg spin-1/2 chain, which describes how individual quantum magnets (spins) interact in a linear arrangement. For decades, scientists have predicted that as these chains increase in length, their energy gap should gradually diminish, leading to a gapless quantum state. However, directly constructing and measuring such chains with precision had remained a technical challenge—until now.

Thanks to FUNLAYERS-supported work, researchers developed a novel approach using olympicene-based molecular chains—organic molecules with a structure resembling Olympic rings. By precisely controlling the length of these chains, the team successfully measured how their energy gap evolves as the system grows, confirming key theoretical predictions in quantum mechanics.

Using inelastic electron tunnelling spectroscopy, the researchers were able to observe a power-law decay in the energy required to excite spins, a long-anticipated effect that had never before been measured with such precision.

Groundbreaking Observation of Exotic Spinon Excitations

The study also led to an important discovery: direct evidence of spinons, exotic quantum excitations that emerge in certain quantum systems when spins reorganise collectively. While spinons have been indirectly observed in past experiments, this research provides a new way to visualise them, opening exciting possibilities for future studies of low-dimensional quantum materials.

Published in a World-Leading Journal

The impact of this research has been recognised with its publication in Nature Materials, one of the most prestigious journals in materials science and nanotechnology. This milestone underscores the scientific importance of the results and the success of the FUNLAYERS initiative in driving forward research into functional quantum nanostructures.

Advancing Quantum Materials Through Collaboration

The study was conducted by an international collaboration of scientists from INL – International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, EMPA, the Technical University of Dresden, the Max Planck Institute for Microstructure Physics, the University of Santiago de Compostela, the University of Alicante, and the University of Bern.

The research was made possible through the support of the FUNLAYERS project, which is dedicated to exploring low-dimensional materials and their applications in quantum technologies. By enabling cutting-edge discoveries like this, FUNLAYERS continues to push the boundaries of nanoscience and quantum materials research.