Scientists Discover Surprising Quantum Properties in Seemingly Ordinary Element
Scientists Discover Surprising Quantum Properties in Seemingly Ordinary Element Cobalt has long been considered a textbook ferromagnet, but new experiments reveal a hidden network of topological electronic states woven into its structure. Credit: Stock A well-known magnetic metal has emerged as a surprisingly versatile quantum platform. Cobalt has long been viewed as a textbook example of a ferromagnetic metal, with its structure and behavior thought to be thoroughly understood. Now, an international research team led by HZB physicist Dr. Jaime Sánchez-Barriga has revealed that this familiar element holds far more complexity than expected. Their experiments uncovered intricate topological features hidden within cobalt’s electronic structure.Using spin-resolved measurements of its band structure (spin-ARPES) at the BESSY II synchrotron, the scientists detected intertwined energy bands that intersect along extended pathways in specific crystallographic directions. Remarkably, these featu...