The low-temperature highly correlated quantum phase in the charge-density-wave 1T-TaS2 compound

Abstract

Charge-density waves: Alone no longer Evidence for a hidden form of quantum correlation is uncovered by researchers in Korea, the UK, France and the USA. Marie Kratochvilova et al. from the Institute of Basic Science identify magnetic ordering in a material that is already well-studied for its charge-ordering properties. Charge-density waves occur when the electrons in a crystalline material create a standing-wave pattern. For example, an electron in each tantalum atom in tantalum disulfide (1T-TaS2) can strongly interact with its neighbor to form a Star of David pattern: one electron on each of the twelve vertices, and one in the middle. Kratochvilova et al. now find evidence that these thirteenth ‘orphan’ electrons exhibit their own type of ordering. The team measured the low-temperature magnetic properties of 1T-TaS2 using multiple techniques and identified short-range magnetic ordering in agreement with theoretical predictions.