Nagaland University, IIT Bombay propose platform to “control quantum states” with magnetic fields

Researchers from Nagaland University and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) have proposed a new two-dimensional lattice architecture that offers a simpler way to control unusual quantum states using magnetic fields.

The proposed architecture, termed the 'diamond-dodecagon lattice', could open avenues for future quantum sensors, programmable quantum devices and advanced quantum materials. In the longer term, the research provides a platform to manage energy and information movement at very small scales.

Computer simulations indicate that the atomic arrangement naturally traps electrons in small regions, creating flat bands where electrons interact strongly and could give rise to novel forms of matter. The work is published in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter.

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Nagaland University, IIT Bombay study traps electrons

The newly proposed structure supports three flat energy bands in which electrons become strongly confined within compact localised states. These states are restricted to small clusters of atoms and effectively disappear beyond these regions.

The reduced electron motion enhances the interactions between electrons, resulting in conditions for novel magnetic states and superconducting phases. A magnetic flux through the lattice modifies the flat bands and induces a topological phase transition. This results in a topological phase where the material acts as an electrical insulator in its bulk, but hosts robustly conducting states at its edges that are largely immune to structural imperfections.

Dr. Biplab Pal, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Nagaland University, said, “The objective is to use the lattice geometry as a tool to control the quantum behaviour. In the proposed diamond-dodecagon lattice, the arrangement of atoms itself can confine electrons and produce multiple flat bands. We further show that an external magnetic field can be used to tune these states and drive the system into a topological phase, providing a potentially useful platform for future quantum technologies”.

Dr. Joydeep Majhi, former postdoc at Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science, IIT Bombay, added, “In ordinary materials, electrons can move through the material and carry electrical energy. However, in certain specially-structured systems, the geometry of the material can cause different pathways available to an electron to cancel one another. As a result, the electron becomes confined to a small region rather than travelling freely through the material.”

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Joint research opens future applications

While the results are currently theoretical and simulation based, they could inform the physical design of artificial structures that mimic the predicted behavior. The mechanism relies mainly on structural geometry and external magnetic field tuning rather than complex chemical compositions, therefore the experimental verification could be done in photonic lattices, where light simulates electron behaviour, or in ultracold atomic systems. 

Future work is expected to focus on developing experimental realisations, detecting these quantum states in realistic physical environments, and examining the possibility of supporting stable quantum phases in higher operating temperatures by the associated geometric structures.

Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor, Nagaland University, said: “I am delighted to note the significant research contribution by researchers of Nagaland University and IIT Bombay in proposing a new diamond-dodecagon lattice platform for controlling quantum states using magnetic fields. This work represents an important step towards advancing research in quantum materials and emerging quantum technologies.”

The study was co-authored by Pal and Majhi, with funding provided through a Minor Start-up Research Grant from Nagaland University.