German physicists discover electron tornadoes in tantalum arsenide

Physicists in Germany have discovered that electrons can form 'tornadoes' inside a quantum material known as tantalum arsenide. This behavior involves the electrons' inertia, which can create unexpected patterns. These electron tornadoes exist in a space called momentum space. Unlike position space, which measures where particles are located, momentum space describes how they move based on their energy and direction. By analyzing the electron behavior, researchers found vortex patterns that reveal this strange motion. This discovery could lead to a new type of electronics called 'orbitronics.' Instead of relying on the electrical charge of electrons, orbitronics would use their twisting motion to transmit information. This offers a potential advancement for electronic circuits and quantum computers. The team at the Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter research center used a method called angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) to observe these phenomena. This technique involves shining light on a material sample to extract electrons and analyze their energy and exit angles. To confirm the presence of quantum tornadoes, the researchers built a 3D model from their two-dimensional measurements, similar to a CT scan in medicine. By layering each snapshot, they were able to visualize the vortex structure of electrons in momentum space. Future research could lead to more efficient electronics and the development of orbitronics, alongside other innovative technologies like spintronics, which focuses on the spin of electrons to carry information. The findings were published in the journal Physical Review X.