Researchers led by Assistant Professor Denis Bandurin have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the development of electronic devices. Traditionally, electrons were thought to behave like individual particles, but in certain materials like graphene, they act together like a viscous fluid. This finding has significant implications for the future of technology.
By harnessing this phenomenon, scientists can create innovative devices that can detect terahertz waves, which have a wide range of potential applications, including ultrafast communication networks, medical imaging, and observational astronomy. The team’s research, published in Nature Nanotechnology, demonstrates how graphene exposed to terahertz radiation heats up and reduces its viscosity, resulting in lower electrical resistance.
This breakthrough could develop new technologies, including beyond 5G networks and advanced medical imaging tools. Key researchers involved in this study include PhD students Mikhail Kravtsov and Artur Shilov.
Unlocking New Technologies: The Fluid-Like Behavior of Electrons
Electronics has long been based on the traditional model of electron behavior, where electrons are imagined as individual particles moving freely in metals and semiconductors. However, this understanding falls short when it comes to emerging quantum materials like graphene. In these materials, electrons behave collectively, resembling a viscous fluid such as oil. This phenomenon has significant implications for the development of new technologies.
Research has shown that when graphene is exposed to electromagnetic radiation of terahertz frequencies, the electron fluid heats up and its viscosity is drastically reduced, resulting in lower electrical resistance. This effect is similar to how viscous fluids like oil and honey flow more easily when heated. The reduction in viscosity enables the creation of innovative devices that can detect terahertz waves by sensing changes in electrical resistance.
Terahertz radiation, situated between microwaves and infrared light, has a vast range of potential applications. Being able to detect THz waves could unlock major advances in technologies such as communications, medical imaging, and industrial quality control. For instance, THz radiation could serve as the “carrier frequency” for ultrafast, beyond 5G networks, enabling faster data transfer for Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices and self-driving cars.
The viscosity reduction effect has led to the creation of a new class of electronic device called viscous electron bolometers. These devices are able to sense changes in resistance extremely accurately and quickly, operating at the pico-second scale. This represents the first practical, real-world application of viscous electronics, a concept once thought to be purely theoretical.
Understanding and exploitation of electrons’ collective fluid-like behavior opens up new possibilities for electronic device design. By harnessing this phenomenon, researchers can create devices that operate at unprecedented speeds and efficiencies. As research continues to uncover more secrets in the emerging world of quantum materials, it is clear that traditional models of electron behavior are no longer sufficient.
The Future of Electronics: Unlocking New Technological Possibilities
The discovery of viscous electronics has significant implications for the future development of a broad range of technologies. By embracing this new understanding of electron behavior, researchers could be on the verge of unlocking a new wave of technological possibilities. As research continues to advance, it is likely that we will see the emergence of new devices and applications that were previously unimaginable.
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