Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellow, Prof. Qimiao Si (Rice University) and his co-investigators has pioneered a new quantum state of matter that effectively stabilizes fragile quantum information by merging quantum criticality with electronic topology. Published in Nature Physics on Jan. 14, 2026, this discovery proves that strong electron interactions (previously thought to be a source of instability) can be harnessed to create "twisted" electron paths that are naturally resistant to environmental noise. By solving this fundamental decoherence hurdle, this S&T Foundations-Basic Research funded research provides the design architecture for quantum hardware capable of operating in harsh, non-laboratory environments.
Basic research impact: By investigating the heavy-fermion compound CeRu(4)Sn(6), the researchers demonstrated that a Weyl–Kondo semimetal phase emerges directly from a quantum critical point. This finding is significant because it provides a blueprint for materials that maintain quantum coherence even in the absence of traditional quasiparticles. This "material architecture" offers a potential solution to the decoherence hurdle, paving the way for quantum hardware that is robust enough to operate outside of strictly controlled laboratory settings.
Strategic Impact: By providing a material foundation for robust topological states, this research enables the development of next-generation quantum sensors and processors that are "resilient by design." Unlike current quantum systems that require near-perfect conditions, these materials offer the stability necessary for high-fidelity signal processing and autonomous precision timing in complex, high-interference environments.
This work was made possible with the collaborations of researchers at Technische Universität Wien of Technology and University of Johannesburg. Congratulations to Prof. Si and his highly skilled co-investigators Diana Kirschbaum, Lei Chen, Diego A. Zocco, Haoyu Hu, Federico Mazza, Matthias Karlich, Monika Lužnik, Ha Nguyen, Julio Antonio Larrea Jimenez, André Strydom, Devashi Adroja, Xinlin Yan, Andrey Prokofiev, and corresponding author Silke Buehler-Paschen on this remarkable achievement!
Next, the team will transition to identifying specific heavy fermion materials that host this robust state at higher operational temperatures. Read about an article highlighting the research and link to Nature publication here: https://news.rice.edu/news/2026/scientists-uncover-new-quantum-state-could-power-future-technologies