MIT researchers say third magnetic state discovered

The new state is being called a quantum spin liquid. Although the material which exhibits this type of behaviour – herbsmithite – is solid, the magnetic orientations of particles within it are said to fluctuate in a similar way to molecules in a liquid. The QSL is a solid crystal, but its magnetic state is described as liquid: Unlike the other two kinds of magnetism, the magnetic orientations of the individual particles within it fluctuate constantly, resembling the constant motion of molecules within a true liquid. MIT professor of physics Young Lee says it may take a long time to translate the 'very fundamental research' into practical applications. However, the research is thought to have application in data storage or communications and Prof Lee believes long range entanglement – a quantum effect in which two widely separated particles can instantaneously influence each other's states – could play a role. A further potential application is in high temperature superconductors. This concept was first proposed by the theorist Philip Anderson in 1987. According to Prof Lee: "Ever since then, physicists have wanted to make such a state, but it's only in the past few years that we've made progress."