Schrödinger’s anthill: Quantum entanglement found in a crystal large enough to hold

Science News from research organizations Schrödinger’s anthill: Quantum entanglement found in a crystal large enough to hold Scientists have uncovered surprisingly strong quantum entanglement inside a hand-sized crystal, revealing that even macroscopic materials can behave in profoundly quantum ways. Date: July 7, 2026 Source: Vienna University of Technology Summary: A centimeter-sized crystal has revealed clear signs of quantum entanglement, showing that large, everyday objects can display surprisingly deep quantum behavior. The discovery could help solve the mystery of strange metals while opening new possibilities for ultra-precise quantum sensors and other advanced technologies. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Proof of quantum effects in a strange metal. Credit: Harald Ritsch / TU Wien Quantum phenomena are usually associated with extremely small objects such as individual atoms, molecules, or photons that must be carefully isolated from their surroundings. But can those same strange quantum effects also exist in objects large enough to see and hold? Researchers at TU Wien have now provided compelling evidence that they can. By studying a centimeter-sized crystal made from a type of material known as a strange metal, the team detected a high degree of quantum entanglement, one of the most remarkable features of quantum physics. They accomplished this using a technique from quantum information science called quantum Fisher information. The results create a new connection between quantum information and solid-state physics by showing that quantum entanglement can be measured directly in a macroscopic strange metal. From Schrödinger's Cat to an Anthill Whether quantum mechanics applies only to tiny particles or also to larger objects has been debated since the early days of the field.

Physicist Erwin Schrödinger famously illustrated the mystery with his thought experiment involving a cat that is simultaneously alive and dead until observed. Since then, scientists have repeatedly pushed the limits of how large a system can display quantum behavior. The TU Wien team approached the question from a different angle. "Our approach is different," says Prof. Silke Bühler-Paschen from the Institute of Solid State Physics at TU Wien. "We do not try to bring the crystal as a whole into a superposition of two states. Instead, we ask whether its constituents are -- collectively -- in such a state of entanglement." Rather than thinking of Schrödinger's cat, Bühler-Paschen says the experiment is more like an anthill. When an anthill is disturbed, the response comes from the colony acting together rather than from any individual ant. The researchers wanted to determine whether the particles inside the crystal behave in a similarly coordinated way.

Quantum Fisher Information Reveals Hidden Entanglement The theoretical framework behind the experiment was developed by Innsbruck quantum physicist Peter Zoller and his colleagues. Their work showed that quantum Fisher information can be used to identify quantum entanglement even in complex systems made up of enormous numbers of interacting particles. "The quantum Fisher information quantifies how sensitively a quantum system responds to a change," explains Bühler-Paschen. "For a collection of independent particles, the response is limited because each particle contributes on its own. However, if the particles are entangled, the entire system can respond more strongly than the sum of its individual parts. This enhanced sensitivity is precisely what makes entanglement such a valuable resource for quantum metrology, where one aims to detect extremely small signals with the highest possible precision. By measuring how strongly a system responds to a perturbation, one can therefore infer the degree of entanglement present in the material." In simple terms, a strongly entangled system reacts more dramatically to disturbances than a collection of independent particles, allowing researchers to estimate how much entanglement is present.

Strange Metal Crystal Shows Collective Quantum Behavior To test the idea, the researchers created a crystal composed of cerium, palladium, and silicon. This material belongs to the class of strange metals, which have long fascinated physicists because they display unusual quantum properties that remain only partly understood. At the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, PhD student Federico Mazza fired neutrons at the crystal and measured its response. "In a normal material, one would expect a neutron to transfer its energy to an individual particle," says Mazza. "But by analyzing the data using the quantum Fisher information, we found a response that cannot be explained in terms of independent particles. Instead, it indicates that groups of at least nine quantum-entangled entities act collectively." The measurements provide direct evidence of strong multipartite quantum entanglement inside a solid crystal that is large enough to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Solving the Mystery of Strange Metals The researchers originally set out to better understand why strange metals behave so differently from conventional materials. Similar behavior is also found in other systems, including high-temperature superconductors. Interest in strange metals has grown rapidly in recent years as scientists continue uncovering unexpected properties. In 2025, researchers from TU Wien and Rice University reported that electrical current moves through these materials with unusually low electrical noise. The newly observed quantum entanglement may help explain why. Rather than acting independently, the particles appear to coordinate their behavior in a way that suppresses current fluctuations. "What we see here is not a detail of one particular material, but a general physical principle," says Fakher Assaad from the University of Würzburg, lead theorist of the work. "Strong entanglement appears to be directly linked to the unusual behavior of strange metals." Toward Future Quantum Technologies The researchers believe the work demonstrates the value of bringing together ideas from quantum information science and condensed matter physics. "The results are a great success for us," says Silke Bühler-Paschen. "They confirm that our unusual approach of using methods from quantum information science for solid-state physics studies of novel materials can reveal fundamentally new insight." The team is now looking ahead to the reverse exchange of ideas. They hope to determine whether strange metals could eventually become useful for quantum technologies, including highly sensitive quantum metrology systems capable of detecting extremely small signals with exceptional precision. RELATED TOPICS Matter & Energy Physics Energy and Resources Nanotechnology Detectors Nature of Water Quantum Physics Materials Science Inorganic Chemistry RELATED TERMS Quantum computer Quantum entanglement Introduction to quantum mechanics Robot Metal Solar power Quantum dot Quantum tunnelling Story Source: Materials provided by Vienna University of Technology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference: Federico Mazza, Sounak Biswas, Xinlin Yan, Andrey Prokofiev, Paul Steffens, Qimiao Si, Fakher F. Assaad, Silke Paschen. Quantum Fisher information in a strange metal. Nature Physics, 2026; DOI: 10.1038/s41567-026-03298-0 Cite This Page: MLA APA Chicago Vienna University of Technology. "Schrödinger’s anthill: Quantum entanglement found in a crystal large enough to hold." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 July 2026. . Vienna University of Technology. (2026, July 7). Schrödinger’s anthill: Quantum entanglement found in a crystal large enough to hold. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 7, 2026 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260701015242.htm Vienna University of Technology. "Schrödinger’s anthill: Quantum entanglement found in a crystal large enough to hold." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260701015242.htm (accessed July 7, 2026). Explore More from ScienceDaily RELATED STORIES Scientists Connect “time Crystal” to Real Device in Quantum Breakthrough May 5, 2026 — A strange kind of matter that “ticks” forever without energy input has just taken a major leap toward real-world use. Known as a time crystal, this quantum system repeats its motion ...

Graphene Just Broke a Fundamental Law of Physics Sep. 12, 2025 — For the first time, scientists have observed electrons in graphene behaving like a nearly perfect quantum fluid, challenging a long-standing puzzle in physics. By creating ultra-clean samples, the ...

Physicists Use Quantum Entanglement to Crack Mystery of Strange Metals Mar. 28, 2025 — Scientists have long sought to unravel the mysteries of strange metals -- materials that defy conventional rules of electricity and magnetism. Now, a team of physicists has made a breakthrough in ... A Symphony in Quantum Feb. 10, 2025 — Entanglement -- linking distant particles or groups of particles so that one cannot be described without the other -- is at the core of the quantum revolution changing the face of modern technology. ... Scientists Find a New Way of Entangling Light and Sound Nov. 14, 2024 — For a wide variety of emerging quantum technologies, such as secure quantum communications and quantum computing, quantum entanglement is a prerequisite.

Scientists have now demonstrated a ... Best of Both Worlds — Combining Classical and Quantum Systems to Meet Supercomputing Demands Aug. 12, 2021 — Quantum entanglement is one of the most fundamental and intriguing phenomena in nature. Recent research on entanglement has proven to be a valuable resource for quantum communication and information ... TRENDING AT SCITECHDAILY.com NASA Celebrates July 4th With a Stunning Hubble Cosmic Sparkler From the Dawn of Time James Webb Uncovers the Atmosphere of a Hellish Lava World 41 Light-Years Away Scientists Say Intermittent Fasting Could Make Weight Loss Easier Could We Have Been Wrong About Fish Oil and Brain Health?

New Study Raises Major Questions