Recreating Quantum Magnetism: Researchers Realize Heisenberg Spin Chains with Nanographene

[antonberlkoi]

In 2024, researchers at Empa and their partners successfully created a one-dimensional alternating Heisenberg model using a synthetic material for the first time. This quantum-physical model, known for nearly a century, describes a linear chain of spins, a fundamental concept in quantum magnetism. Now, the research team, led by Roman Fasel, head of Empa's nanotech@surfaces laboratory, has taken another step forward by realizing a closely related version of the model in the lab.
Two Models, Different Quantum Properties

In the alternating Heisenberg model, spins are arranged in a pattern where strong and weak couplings alternate, leading to an energy gap between the ground state and excited states. This results in spins forming strong pairwise bonds, with correlations decreasing exponentially.

In contrast, the newly created model features evenly connected spins, leading to strong quantum entanglement and long-range correlations without an energy gap. Despite appearing to be a minor structural difference, this fundamentally alters the quantum properties of the system.

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The researchers were able to precisely verify these predictions of quantum physics in their nanographene spin chains. Their findings have now been published in Nature Materials.
Building Quantum Models with Nanographene

Both quantum models were realized using nanographenes, tiny molecular fragments of graphene. By precisely shaping these fragments, the researchers can manipulate their quantum properties, creating an experimental platform for studying various quantum models and effects.

For the alternating Heisenberg chain, the researchers used Clar’s goblets, hourglass-shaped nanographene molecules made up of eleven carbon rings.

For the homogeneous Heisenberg chain, they used Olympicene, a nanographene structure consisting of five carbon rings, named for its resemblance to the Olympic rings.

"We have now demonstrated for the second time that theoretical models of quantum physics can be realized with nanographenes, making their predictions experimentally testable," says Fasel.
Towards Practical Quantum Technologies

The team’s next goal is to use nanographenes to create and study ferrimagnetic spin chains, where magnetic moments align in an antiparallel pattern but do not completely cancel out.

Another exciting avenue of research is two-dimensional spin lattices, which offer a much greater variety of quantum phases than spin chains. These include topological states, quantum spin liquids, and exotic critical phenomena, making them highly relevant for both fundamental research and practical applications.

Recreating these textbook quantum models is more than just an academic pursuit. Quantum technologies have the potential to revolutionize computing, communication, and measurement technology, but their quantum states are fragile and difficult to control.

By building a "quantum Lego" with nanographenes, Empa researchers aim to deepen their understanding of quantum effects, paving the way for practical quantum technologies in the future.