Scientists just created exotic new forms of matter that shouldn’t exist

Science News from research organizations Scientists just created exotic new forms of matter that shouldn’t exist Date: May 4, 2026 Source: California Polytechnic State University Summary: A new quantum physics study reveals that simply changing a magnetic field over time can unlock entirely new forms of matter that don’t exist under normal conditions. By carefully “driving” materials with timed magnetic shifts, researchers created exotic quantum states that could be far more stable and resistant to errors—one of the biggest challenges in quantum computing. This breakthrough suggests that the future of quantum technology may depend not just on what materials are made of, but how they’re manipulated in time. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Tuning magnetic fields over time may unlock entirely new forms of matter—and a more stable future for quantum tech. Credit: AI/ScienceDaily.com Quantum technology is widely expected to transform how large and complex data sets are processed. Although it is currently used mostly in laboratories and research environments, the field is steadily moving toward real-world applications across a range of industries. In a recent study exploring the fundamentals of quantum physics, researchers examined how matter behaves at extremely small scales, including atoms, electrons, and photons. The work, led by Cal Poly Physics Department Lecturer Ian Powell, focused on how varying a magnetic field over time can cause matter to exhibit unusual and previously unseen properties. Powell and student researcher Louis Buchalter, who earned a Cal Poly bachelor's degree in physics in 2025, published their findings in Physical Review B in a paper titled "Flux-Switching Floquet Engineering." Their research shows that when magnetic fields are changed in a controlled, time-dependent way, they can generate quantum states that do not exist in materials that remain unchanged over time (remaining in the same state as time elapses). "On a big-picture level, I would describe this as an advance in our understanding of how time-dependent control can create and organize new forms of quantum matter," Powell said. "The central idea is that useful quantum properties can depend not just on what a material is, but on how it is driven in time. In our case, we show that periodically changing a magnetic field can produce driven quantum phases with no static counterpart." Toward More Stable Quantum Technologies By carefully timing how magnetic fields are applied, scientists can design quantum systems with properties that are more stable and less vulnerable to "noise" or imperfections. These disruptions are a major challenge in quantum technology, often leading to errors in calculations or system performance. Powell noted that while the technical details can be difficult to explain outside the field, the broader concept is clear. The findings suggest new ways to create and study these unusual quantum states in controlled settings such as ultracold-atom experiments. "The most direct industry relevance of our study is to quantum computing and quantum simulation, rather than to a specific end-use sector at this stage," Powell said. "Any eventual impact on areas like pharmaceuticals, finance, manufacturing or aerospace would likely be indirect, by contributing to the longer-term development of better quantum technologies. To move toward industry use, the next steps would be experimental validation and further work connecting these ideas to realistic quantum-device platforms." New Mathematical Patterns in Quantum Systems Beyond creating new quantum states, the research also identified a mathematical organizing principle that mirrors patterns typically found in higher-dimensional quantum systems. This suggests that relatively simple systems driven by changing conditions could provide new ways to explore more complex quantum physics.

The team also mapped out how these exotic states form, revealing a precise structure in the system's topological phase diagram. This diagram serves as a visual guide to different stable quantum phases, each defined by fixed topological properties.

Why Quantum Control Matters for Computing Quantum mechanics allows computing systems to process information in ways that far exceed the capabilities of classical computers. These systems can perform large-scale simulations, analyze vast data sets, and solve complex problems more efficiently. Magnetic fields play a central role in this process. They are commonly used to control and measure quantum bits (or qubits), the fundamental units of quantum information. Qubits are comparable to the units of 0s and 1s in classicalcomputing (applied in commonplace computing currently) used to represent physical electrical states.

Student Research Experience and Future Work For Buchalter, participating in the study provided valuable insight into the research process and scientific communication. "A lot about the process of conducting research and how new research findings are effectively communicated with the broader scientific community." "I learned that research is rarely a straightforward process, often requiring persistence and creative problem solving during the course of a research project," Buchalter said. "I believe our results help demonstrate the power of Floquet engineering for realizing quantum systems with highly-tunable properties, paving the way for further research into periodically driven quantum matter and the development of its applications." Buchalter plans to begin a Master of Science program in materials science and engineering at the University of Washington in the fall, where he will focus on experimental studies of quantum matter. He is also considering a future career at a national laboratory working on quantum device development. "I initially took on the project due to my interest in condensed matter physics, however, I became fascinated with the field of quantum materials through my experience," Buchalter said. "I am very interested in continuing to study quantum matter and helping develop its applications in electronic and photonic devices." RELATED TOPICS Matter & Energy Nanotechnology Engineering and Construction Materials Science Physics Computers & Math Computers and Internet Computer Modeling Spintronics Research Information Technology RELATED TERMS Introduction to quantum mechanics Quantum computer Computing Particle physics Physics Quantum entanglement Computing power everywhere Nanotechnology Story Source: Materials provided by California Polytechnic State University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference: Ian Emmanuel Powell, Louis Buchalter. Flux-switching Floquet engineering. Physical Review B, 2026; 113 (19) DOI: 10.1103/c28t-x1dh Cite This Page: MLA APA Chicago California Polytechnic State University. "Scientists just created exotic new forms of matter that shouldn’t exist." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 May 2026. .

California Polytechnic State University. (2026, May 4). Scientists just created exotic new forms of matter that shouldn’t exist. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 4, 2026 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260504154014.htm California Polytechnic State University. "Scientists just created exotic new forms of matter that shouldn’t exist." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260504154014.htm (accessed May 4, 2026). Explore More from ScienceDaily RELATED STORIES Graphene Just Defied a Fundamental Law of Physics Apr. 15, 2026 — In a major breakthrough, scientists have observed electrons in graphene flowing like a nearly frictionless liquid, defying a core law of physics. This exotic quantum state not only reveals new ... Scientists Switch on the World’s Largest Neutrino Detector Deep Underground Aug. 26, 2025 — Deep beneath southern China, JUNO has launched one of the most ambitious neutrino experiments in history. With its massive 20,000-ton liquid scintillator detector now operational, it’s poised to ...

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